30 September 2026
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated Sikkim's first Udyami Bharosa Sammelan 2026 at Manan Kendra on 28 September 2026. The Commerce and Industries Department organised it. The Chief Minister promoted the 'One Family, One Entrepreneur' vision. MoUs were signed with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Amazon and Flipkart. Cheques were given to 80 beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Udyamshilta Yojana. The Temi Tea Catalogue and the Government Fruit Preservation Factory were launched.
Organiser:
Commerce and Industries Department
Venue:
Manan Kendra
Beneficiaries given cheques:
80
Vision promoted:
One Family, One Entrepreneur
Why it matters for exams: State schemes, entrepreneurship policy and departmental mandates are common in state-level and general-awareness papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department observed World Tourism Day 2026 at the DAC conference hall in Gangtok on 27 September 2026. The theme was 'Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Re-design Tourism'. The Sikkim Darshan App offers multilingual guides for 50+ destinations. Other e-services are the Sikkim Tourism Portal, SikkimGo Single Sign-On and the Atithi Guest Information System. Sikkim Adventure Tourism Fest 2026 is set for 1-7 November 2026 at Linkeytar, Namthang in Namchi district.
Venue:
DAC conference hall, Gangtok
Destinations on Sikkim Darshan App:
50+
Adventure Tourism Fest:
1-7 November 2026, Linkeytar, Namthang
Why it matters for exams: Days, themes and state tourism initiatives are regular short-answer material.
Kerala PSCUPSC
30 September 2026
The District Level Narcotics Coordination and Enforcement Committee (NCORD) met in the District Collector's chamber at Namchi on 29 September 2026. District Collector Anupa Tamling stressed placing children and young people at the centre of preventive efforts. The Health and Family Welfare Department was advised to continue monitoring de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities. The committee reviewed action against illicit cannabis cultivation and disposal through the Drug Disposal Committee. ASP Namchi Bikash Tiwari briefed the committee on the proposed inclusion of e-Sakshya for systematic evidence documentation.
Meeting place:
District Collector's chamber, Namchi
District Collector:
Anupa Tamling
System proposed:
e-Sakshya
Why it matters for exams: District-level coordination bodies and anti-narcotics machinery are asked under governance and internal security.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The district in the south of Sikkim lies at an altitude of 400 mtr to 2000 mtr and encompasses a total area of around 75000 hectares. Namchi or Namtse, meaning Sky High, is the headquarter of South Sikkim, nestled among the hills having elevation of 5500 fts. Its total population is 1,46,850 as per the 2011 census. Of that population 76,670 are male and 70,180 female. The district administration describes the landscape as terraced slopes intercepted by spring patched forest. The district was long known as the South District and has been named Namchi district since December 2021, when Sikkim's four older districts were renamed and two new ones were created; the State's six districts are Gangtok, Gyalshing, Mangan, Namchi, Pakyong and Soreng.
Headquarter:
Namchi (Namtse)
Area:
around 75000 hectares
Altitude range:
400 mtr to 2000 mtr
Elevation of headquarter:
5500 fts
Population (2011 census):
1,46,850
Male and female:
76,670 male and 70,180 female
Why it matters for exams: State Focus questions on Sikkim turn on which town is a district headquarter and on the district's area, altitude and census population.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Khangchendzonga National Park, the only National Park in the state, is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in July 2016. Within an area of 7096 sq km, the state has 30.77% of forest as protected area. That protected area comprises seven wildlife sanctuaries and one national park, which is highest in the country. Sikkim's land ranges in altitude from 310 m (Jorethang) to 8586m (Mount Khangchendzonga) from MSL. The State lies in the Eastern Himalayas, which is a biodiversity hotspot. There are mainly five forest types in Sikkim, namely Sub Tropical, Moist Mixed Deciduous, Wet Temperate, Conifer and Sub-Alpine forest.
World Heritage status:
UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in July 2016
State area:
7096 sq km
Protected area:
30.77% of forest
Protected area network:
seven wildlife sanctuaries and one national park
Altitude at Jorethang:
310 m (Jorethang)
Altitude at Mount Khangchendzonga:
8586m (Mount Khangchendzonga)
Why it matters for exams: Examiners ask which World Heritage Site lies in Sikkim, and the State's protected-area share and altitude range are standard geography data.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Sikkim became the 22nd State of India vide the Constitution (36th Amendment) Act 1975. The special provision laid for the State is article 371(F) of the Constitution of India. Sikkim was a tiny Himalayan kingdom once ruled by the hereditary monarchy for about 3 centuries from 17 century A.D. In 1950 the kingdom became a protectorate of the Government of India, vested with autonomy in its internal affairs while its defence, communications and external relation were the responsibility of the protector. The Act provides that the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim shall consist of not less than thirty two members. The Assembly formed as a result of the elections held in Sikkim in April, 1974 with 32 members elected was deemed to be the Legislative Assembly of the State of Sikkim duly constituted under the Constitution.
State of the Indian Union:
22nd State of India
Amendment Act:
Constitution (36th Amendment) Act 1975
Special provision:
article 371(F)
Assembly members:
not less than thirty two members
Protectorate of the Government of India:
1950
Why it matters for exams: The article number that carries a State's special provisions is a standard polity question, and Sikkim's position as the 22nd State is asked alongside it.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
Sikkim became an integral part of the Indian Union in May, 1975. The Constitutional Provision under Article 315 to have a Public Service Commission for the State was fulfilled by constituting a State Public Service Commission in the year 1978. The Commission actually started functioning from 1982 with the appointment of the Chairman and deputation of the staff from the State Government. At present the State Public Service Commission is located in the class rooms of the Old West Point School Complex. The Union Public Service Commission decided to declare Gangtok as one of the Centres for conducting Union Public Service Commission Examinations. The Sikkim Public Service Commission has been entrusted with the work of conducting Union Public Service Commission examinations.
Constitutional provision:
Article 315
Year constituted:
1978
Started functioning:
1982
Examination centre declared:
Gangtok
Present location:
Old West Point School Complex
Why it matters for exams: Article 315 is the article tested whenever a State Public Service Commission is asked about, and a State PSC that conducts the Union Commission's examinations is an unusual arrangement worth knowing.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Sikkim Statistics page of the Government of Sikkim gives the State's area as 7096 Sq. Kms. The population for 2011 is 6,10,577, of whom 3,23,070 are male. The child sex ratio is 957. The rural population is 4,56,999. Literacy is 82.6 per cent. The Infant Mortality Rate per 1000 is 26, the Crude Birth Rate per 1000 is 17.6 and the Crude Death Rate per 1000 is 2.02.
Area:
7096 Sq. Kms
Population 2011:
6,10,577
Male population:
3,23,070
Child Sex Ratio:
957
Rural Population:
4,56,999
Literacy:
82.6
Infant Mortality Rate per 1000:
26
Why it matters for exams: A State's area, population, literacy and sex ratio are the figures a State Focus question is built on, and Sikkim is the least populated State of India.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority held State Disaster Risk Reduction Day 2026 at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok, on the theme 'Prepared Children, Resilient Future'. The chief guest recalled the Sikkim earthquake of 18 September 2011 as a lasting reminder of the State's vulnerability. He said the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood further highlighted the changing and complex nature of risks in the Himalayan region. Under the Friday Safety Five programme, schools, ICDS centres and Anganwadi centres give five minutes every Friday to mock drills, hazard identification and evacuation practice. A longitudinal study, 'From Multi-Hazard Risk to Resilience', was launched with Amrita University, IIT Roorkee and Sikkim University.
Recalled:
Earthquake of 18 September 2011
Friday Safety Five:
5 minutes every Friday
Venue:
Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok
Why it matters for exams: Disaster management authorities, drills and Himalayan hazards (earthquake, GLOF) are staple topics.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Soreng district was created on 13 December 2021 vide notification number 26/L&PAD/2021, simultaneously with Pakyong. It was formed from the division of the erstwhile West district. It lies in the south-west corner of Sikkim. It shares its southern border with West Bengal and its western international border with Nepal. Its area is 293.22 sq km and its population is 64760 (2011 census). The erstwhile West district has now been divided into two districts, Gyalshing and Soreng.
Created:
13 December 2021
Area:
293.22 sq km
Population (2011 census):
64760
Why it matters for exams: Sikkim's newer districts and administrative geography are direct-recall questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Nathu La Pass sits at 4,310 metres in the Dongkya Range of the Himalayas. It bridges China's Yadong County in Tibet and the Indian state of Sikkim. The pass marks the India-China frontier and facilitates Indo-Chinese border trade. It was historically a part of the ancient Silk Route. The pass is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and closed on Mondays.
Altitude:
4,310 metres
Range:
Dongkya Range
Connects:
Sikkim and Yadong County, Tibet
Closed on:
Mondays
Why it matters for exams: Mountain passes and border trade points are standard geography and security questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Gurudongmar Lake lies in Mangan district, Sikkim, at 17,800 feet above sea level, among the highest lakes in India. The page lists it as a source of the Teesta River. It is a sacred pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and Sikhs. According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava blessed a portion of the lake so that it would never freeze completely. The nearest airports are Bagdogra and Pakyong.
Altitude:
17,800 feet
District:
Mangan
River:
Teesta
Why it matters for exams: High-altitude lakes and the origin of the Teesta are recurring geography questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Tsomgo Lake, also known as Changu Lake, is situated at 12,313 feet above sea level in East Sikkim. It lies in the high-altitude Himalayan region near Nathu La Pass and is reached via Gangtok. Local folklore says the lake was formed from the tears of the gods, who wept on discovering the plight of local villagers. It is considered sacred by the indigenous Sikkimese people.
Altitude:
12,313 feet
Also known as:
Changu Lake
Region:
East Sikkim, near Nathu La
Why it matters for exams: Lakes of Sikkim and their alternate names are direct-recall geography items.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Pang-Lhabsol commemorates the consecration of Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of Sikkim. It falls on the 15th day of the 7th Tibetan month and features the Pangtoed warrior dance. It also commemorates the blood brotherhood sworn between the Lepchas and the Bhutias. Saga Dawa is the Triple Blessed Festival, on the full moon of the 4th Tibetan month, marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and nirvana. Losar is the Tibetan New Year in February, preceded by the Gutor Chaam at Rumtek monastery.
Pang-Lhabsol:
15th day of the 7th Tibetan month
Saga Dawa:
Full moon of the 4th Tibetan month
Losar:
Tibetan New Year, February
Why it matters for exams: Festivals of Sikkim and what they commemorate are routine culture questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Sikkim became India's first fully organic state in 2016, banning chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It became the 22nd state of India in 1975. It is India's second smallest state in area and its least populous, with Gangtok as capital. Sikkim shares international borders with Nepal, Bhutan and China. Khangchendzonga National Park is India's 1st UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Site.
Fully organic:
2016
Became a state:
1975 (22nd state)
Capital:
Gangtok
Borders:
Nepal, Bhutan, China
Why it matters for exams: India's first fully organic state and Sikkim's basic profile are among the most repeated questions on the state.
Kerala PSCUPSC