The Chugpa are one of the few smaller tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, living in the West Kameng district around Dirang. Although they are ethnically related to the Monpa and the Lishipa, whether they are a Monpa sub-group or not is not sure, but it seems more likely that they are a separate tribe.

Like the Monpa, they are also adherents of Lamaism. However, like the Lishipa, they are considered just as inferior to the Monpa as both groups are descended from the early waves of immigrants from Tibet via Bhutan or from Tibet. Like most Lamaist tribes, they built houses based on stones and follow a Tibetan Buddhist culture, though they might not be as advanced as the Monpa. Their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group.