18 October 2026
The Health and Family Welfare Department of Sikkim revised the fee for MBBS society seats at the Helen Lepcha Sikkim Government Medical College in Gangtok to twenty lakh rupees, in a notice dated 14 October 2026. The seats are for candidates who have qualified in NEET-UG 2026, for admission to the MBBS programme in the 2026-27 academic session. The same notice carried a new counselling schedule for the society seats.
Revised fee:
Rs 20,00,000
Notice date:
14 October 2026
Why it matters for exams: The name of a State's first government medical college and its admission quotas are standard State-focus questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NEET-UG National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) — The common entrance test for undergraduate medical admissions in India.
19 October 2026
Dushyant Kumar Gautam took oath as Governor of Sikkim on Monday, 19 October 2026, at a ceremony at Lok Bhavan. Sikkim Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque administered the oath to him. He had been referred to as Governor-designate before the ceremony, and his appointment warrant preceded the swearing-in. Reports of the ceremony differ on where he falls in the sequence of Sikkim's Governors, so this item records the oath, the date and the Chief Justice who administered it rather than an ordinal.
Date of oath:
Monday, 19 October 2026
Oath administered by:
Sikkim Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque
Venue:
Lok Bhavan
Why it matters for exams: A change in the holder of a Governor's office, with the date and the judge who administered the oath, is standard polity and current affairs material.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Governor-designate Governor-designate — A person named to the office of Governor who has not yet taken the oath.
Background
Sikkim's district map, under which the new Governor Dushyant Kumar Gautam takes charge, was redrawn in 2021. The Soreng district administration records that the district of Soreng was created along with Pakyong district on 13 December 2021. Soreng was previously a subdivision of the former West district, which was divided into Gyalshing and Soreng. The district covers an area of 293.22 square kilometres and had a population of 64,760 at the 2011 census. It lies in the southwest corner of Sikkim, bordering West Bengal to the south and Nepal to the west, and is connected to Gangtok by metalled roads.
Date of creation:
13 December 2021
Area:
293.22 Sq. Km.
Population:
64760 (2011 census)
Why it matters for exams: Newly created districts, their dates of creation and their area and population figures are frequently asked in State-focus questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Subdivision Subdivision — An administrative unit below a district, sometimes later upgraded into a district of its own.
Background
Namchi is one of the six districts of the reorganised Sikkim whose administration reports to the Governor sworn in at Gangtok this month. The district administration records that Namchi encompasses a total area of around 75,000 hectares, which is about 750 square kilometres. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,46,850, made up of 76,670 males and 70,180 females. The district lies between 400 metres and 2,000 metres in altitude and contains 150 villages. The languages recorded in use in the district are English, Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu.
Area:
around 75000 hectares
Population:
1,46,850 (2011 Census)
Altitude:
400 m to 2,000 m
Villages:
150
Why it matters for exams: District area, population, altitude range and the languages in use are exactly the kind of State-focus data an examiner can set a question on.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Lepcha Lepcha — One of the indigenous communities and languages of Sikkim, recorded in use in Namchi district.
Background
The Sikkim Legislative Assembly records that Sikkim became the 22nd State of India Vide Constitution(36th Amendment) Act 1975. 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, with its defence, communications and external relation under the responsibility of the protector. The kingdom finally opted to become full fledged State of the Indian Union with effect from 26 April, 1975 vide the Constitution 36th Amendment Act 1975. Special provision was laid for the State under article 371(F) of the Constitution of India. The Act provides that the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim shall consist of not less than thirty two members. The Assembly of Sikkim formed as a result of the elections held in Sikkim in April, 1974 with 32 members elected in the said elections was deemed to be the legislative Assembly of the State duly constituted under the Constitution. The State has a geographical area of 7096 kms.
Statehood effective from:
26 April, 1975
Constitutional provision:
article 371(F)
Order among States:
22nd State of India
Minimum Assembly strength:
not less than thirty two members
Why it matters for exams: Sikkim is the State Focus of the day, and the 36th Amendment with article 371(F) is the standard polity question on how a protectorate became a State.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Protectorate Protectorate of the Government of India — A state whose defence, communications and external relations are the responsibility of a protecting power.
Background
The Government of Sikkim describes the State as the main catchment area for the beautiful river Teesta, which has its main source from Chho Lhamo lake in the north. It is further strengthened by many streams and rivers of which Tholung, Lachung, Great Rangeet and Rangpo are important drainers. It also has about 180 perennial lakes, among which Khachoedpalri, Gurudongmar, Chho Lhamo and Men Moi Tso are some of the most scenic. Sikkim, in the west is bound by the north-south spur of the Great Himalayan Range which includes Khangchendzonga, and down to its south is Singalila ridge. In the north it is bound by Dongkia range and also partly includes the Tibetan Plateau; in the east it is bound by the Chola range. Known to outside world as Kanchenjunga, it is the third highest peak in the world. The most important passes are Jelep-la, Nathu-la, Cho-la and Thanka-la in the east; Donkiua, Kongralamu and Naku in the north and Kanglanangma and Chia Bhanjyang in the west. Bounded by foreign nations on three sides, it shares its boundary with the sister state of West Bengal, and is like a stupendous stairway leading from the western border of the Tibetan plateau down to the plains of West Bengal, with a fall of about 5,215 metres in 240 kms.
Main river:
Teesta
Main source of the Teesta:
Chho Lhamo lake
Perennial lakes:
about 180
Fall from plateau to plains:
about 5,215 metres in 240 kms
Why it matters for exams: With Sikkim as the State Focus, the Teesta, Khangchendzonga and Nathu-la are the three Sikkim names an examiner reaches for first.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The Forest and Environment Department of Sikkim states that the State of Sikkim has the largest recorded forest land area covering 82.31% of its geographical area. Reserve Forest, Khasmal and Gorucharan are the three categories of forest in the State. Khasmal forest is forest land settled and set aside by the Government for meeting the bonafide domestic need of timber, firewood and fodder of the resident of adjoining villages. Within an area of 7096 sq km, the state has 30.77% of forest as protected area comprising of seven wildlife sanctuaries and one national park which is highest in the country. Khangchendzonga National Park, the only National Park in the state is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in July 2016. Land in the State ranges in altitude of 310 m (Jorethang) to 8586m (Mount Khangchendzonga) from MSL, and 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.
Recorded forest land area:
82.31% of its geographical area
Protected area share:
30.77%
Altitude range:
310 m (Jorethang) to 8586m (Mount Khangchendzonga)
Forest categories:
Reserve Forest, Khasmal and Gorucharan
Why it matters for exams: Sikkim is the State Focus, and Khangchendzonga National Park is the one World Heritage Site an aspirant must be able to place in the right State.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Khasmal Khasmal forest — Forest land set aside for the domestic timber, firewood and fodder needs of adjoining villages in Sikkim.
Background
The Food Security and Agriculture Development Department of Sikkim states that agriculture is still the main stay of rural population of Sikkim. Due to adverse geographical location and difficult terrain, the expansion of area under cultivation is limited. The challenge is two-fold, very low per-capita availability of land and decreasing trend of farmers working on farms. For Sikkim, the best agriculture system is sustainable agriculture, which is economically viable for the individual farmer and also environmentally friendly. Being an organic State, the Department is propagating and advocating farmers to adopt new and modern technology of organic farming system to sustain production and certification process in identified areas. The policies and programmes on organic farming envisage making Sikkim a Model Organic State. The Department has formulated a plan programme to curtail the percentage of food grain deficit. Maximum thrust is being given in increasing the productivity of various crops through proper crop management in organic system of farming, extension of irrigation facilities farm mechanization, value addition and post-harvest management.
Main stay of the rural population:
Agriculture
Farming system advocated:
organic farming system
Stated goal:
Model Organic State
Best system for the State:
sustainable agriculture
Why it matters for exams: Sikkim is the State Focus, and the organic State label is the single fact about Sikkim agriculture that recurs across Kerala PSC, UPSC, SSC and bank papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Gyalshing is one of the six districts of the reorganised Sikkim whose administration reports to the Governor sworn in at Gangtok this month. The district administration records that Gyalshing District is the second largest district in the Indian state of Sikkim, with an area of 836 square kilometres. Its population is 75,040, made up of 38,993 males and 36,047 females. The headquarters of the district is at Gyalshing, also known as Geyzing, and the district contains 125 villages. The languages recorded for the district are Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha. The headquarters town is linked to the state capital Gangtok by a metalled road, and Geyzing also connects to the West Bengal towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong via Jorethang.
Area:
836 Sq. Km.
Population:
75,040
Villages:
125
Why it matters for exams: District rank by size, area, population and headquarters names with an alternative spelling are exactly the details State-focus papers test.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Geyzing Geyzing — The alternative name by which the headquarters town of Gyalshing district is known.
Background
North Sikkim, with Mangan as its district headquarters, is part of the State administration that the Governor sworn in at Gangtok this month presides over. The district administration records that North Sikkim district administers 4,226 square kilometres of areas, making it the largest of the State's districts by area. In 2011, North Sikkim had population of 43,709, of which male and female were 24,730 and 18,979 respectively. The district is divided in four subdivisions named Mangan, Dzongu, Kabi and Chungthang. The headquarters town sits about 2,000 feet, or 610 metres, above sea level. The district administration records Kanchenjunga as the highest peak at over 8,000 metres, on the eastern border with Nepal, and notes numerous waterfalls astride the main road.
Area administered:
4,226 square kilometers
Population:
43,709 (2011)
Subdivisions:
Mangan, Dzongu, Kabi and Chungthang
Why it matters for exams: The names of a district's subdivisions, its area and its 2011 population are precisely the kind of State-focus fact an examiner can set four same-kind options on.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Subdivision Subdivision — An administrative unit into which a district is divided, below the district and above the block.