What is Central Tibetan Administration

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is an organisation based in India with the stated goals of "rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and restoring freedom and happiness in Tibet".

It is also referred to as the Tibetan Government in Exile. While its internal structure is government-like, it has stated that it is "not designed to take power in Tibet" rather, it will be dissolved "as soon as freedom is restored in Tibet" in favor of a government formed by Tibetans inside Tibet.

In addition to political advocacy, it administers a network of schools and other cultural activities for Tibetans in India. On February 11, 1991, the CTA became a founding member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) at a ceremony held at the Peace Palace in The Hague. It is headquartered in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala.

It claims to represent the people of the entire Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai province, as well as two Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures and one Tibetan Autonomous County in Sichuan Province, one Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and one Tibetan Autonomous County in Gansu Province and one Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.

The CTA attends to the welfare of the Tibetan exile community in India, who number around 100,000. It runs schools, health services, cultural activities and economic development projects for the Tibetan community. More than 1,000 refugees still arrive each year from China, usually via Nepal.

The CTA operates under the "Charter of the Tibetans In-Exile", adopted in 1991. Executive authority is vested in the Kalon Tripa, an office currently held by Lobsang Sangay, who was elected in 2011. The Kalon Tripa is supported by a Council of Ministers responsible for specific portfolios. Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration.