2 days ago
Successor to 14th Dalai Lama can be chosen only by established conventions: India
A day after the 14th Dalai Lama ended speculations on his successor, India Thursday said that the next leader would be 'chosen only by the present one and with the established conventions'.
On Wednesday, the 14th Dalai Lama had said that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue, and the Gaden Phodrang Trust – a non-profit organisation that his office set up in 2011 — would have the 'sole authority' to recognise his reincarnation.
New Delhi also said that Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajeev Ranjan Singh would be attending the 14th Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on Sunday.
Govt is sending Union ministers @KirenRijiju and Rajeev Ranjan Singh to attend the 90th birthday celebration of Dalai Lama. India makes it clear that a successor to the 14th Dalai Lama could be chosen only by the present one and with the established conventions @IndianExpress
— Liz Mathew (@MathewLiz) July 3, 2025
The Centre's statement also comes a day after China rejected the succession plan and reiterated that any future heir must receive its seal of approval. 'The Dalai Lama's reincarnation must follow the principles of domestic recognition, the 'golden urn' process, and approval by the central government, in line with religious traditions and laws,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
Beijing's reaction came after the Dalai Lama had said: 'I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.'
