Dharamshala, 11 June 2026: Secretary Karma Rinchen, who served for more than 30 years in the Department of Security, assumed charge today as the new Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration.
The Department of Information and International Relations held a brief handing-over and taking-over ceremony between the incoming Secretary, Karma Rinchen, and the outgoing Secretary, Karma Choeying. The ceremony was officially witnessed by Secretary Jigme Tsering of the History, Documentation and Interim Placement Section, representing the Kashag.
During the ceremony, the outgoing Secretary formally handed over the Department’s official documents and inventory records to the incoming Secretary and extended his felicitations and best wishes.
Following the successful transfer of responsibilities, both the incoming and outgoing Secretaries were presented with ceremonial scarves by the Department staff. Secretary Karma Choeying subsequently guided Secretary Karma Rinchen through the Department’s various sections, introducing him to the staff and providing an overview of their respective functions and responsibilities.
Brief Biography of Secretary Karma Rinchen
Secretary Karma Rinchen was born on 2 February 1972 to Namgyal Tsering and Tsering Choedon at Choglamsar, Ladakh, into a humble agro-pastoralist family.
He received his primary education up to Class 10 at Tibetan Children’s Village School in Ladakh and completed his secondary education at the Central School for Tibetans in Shimla. He subsequently earned a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Chandigarh University. After graduating in 1994, he joined the Central Tibetan Administration on 9 September 1995 as an Under Secretary in the Department of Security. In addition, he attended a year-long staff training organised by the Public Service Commission (CTA) at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah.
Over the course of 30 years and 9 months in the Department of Security, Secretary Karma Rinchen rose through the ranks from Under Secretary to Secretary. He was promoted to Deputy Secretary on 5 February 1999, and subsequently to Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in 2005 and 2012, respectively. In 2016, he was appointed Acting Secretary to fill a vacant post and was formally promoted to Secretary on 19 May 2017.
He also serves as a member of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Permanent Strategy Committee.
On 6 June 2026, the Kashag Secretariat announced his transfer to the Department of Information and International Relations. He officially assumed charge as Secretary of the Department on 11 June 2026.
