Sikkim Foundation Day

• The day is observed in India every year, when Sikkim became part of the Indian Union by abolishing the long rule of the monarchy on 16 May 1975.
• Sikkim was made a part of India under the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act.
• National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval played an important part in Sikkim’s merger with India.

• The Kingdom of Sikkim was founded by the Namgyal dynasty in the 17th century.
• It was ruled by Buddhist priest-kings known as the Chogyal.
• It became a princely state of British India in 1890.
• Following Indian independence, Sikkim continued its protectorate status with the Union of India after 1947, and the Republic of India after 1950.

Sikkim

• It is a state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal.
• It includes India’s highest mountain, Kangchenjunga (8586m).
• Sikkim is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows and thousands of varieties of wildflowers.

• Almost 35% of the state is covered by the Khangchendzonga National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It has the highest literacy rate and per capita income among Himalayan states.
• Sikkim accounts for the largest share of cardamom production in India and is the world's second-largest producer of the spice after Guatemala.