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The amendment that made Sikkim the 22nd State of India, ending its Associate State status and inserting Article 371F.
The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 formally integrated Sikkim into the Indian Union as its 22nd State. It ended Sikkim's short-lived and transitional status as an 'Associate State' by repealing Article 2A and the Tenth Schedule, which the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974 had inserted for that purpose. It added Sikkim to the First Schedule as a full state, allotted it representation in Parliament, and inserted Article 371F to provide special constitutional safeguards recognising Sikkim's distinct historical and social circumstances. Sikkim attained statehood on 16 May 1975.
Type: LawFull statehood — Sikkim became the 22nd State of India, added to the First Schedule of the Constitution.
Repeal of Associate State status — Article 2A and the Tenth Schedule, inserted by the 35th Amendment in 1974, were omitted as the transitional arrangement ended.
Insertion of Article 371F — special provisions protecting Sikkim's pre-existing laws, land rights and social arrangements.
Parliamentary representation — Sikkim was allotted one seat in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha.
Continuity of laws — Article 371F provided that laws in force in Sikkim before statehood would continue until amended or repealed by a competent authority.
End of monarchy — the institution of the Chogyal, Sikkim's hereditary ruler, was abolished.
Frequency: Constitutional amendments and Article 371 special provisions appear frequently in UPSC Prelims polity and in SSC and railway general awareness.
Sikkim's integration was a gradual constitutional and political process rather than a single event. It moved from protectorate to Associate State to full statehood over 25 years, driven by growing internal demand for democratic government and the eventual collapse of the monarchy's authority.
The Indo-Sikkim Treaty makes Sikkim an Indian protectorate. India becomes responsible for defence, external affairs and communications, while the Chogyal continues to administer internal affairs.
Growing public demand for democracy and responsible government creates tension between the Chogyal and elected political leadership.
The Tripartite Agreement is signed between the Chogyal, leaders of Sikkim's major political parties and the Government of India, laying the foundation for democratic governance.
The Government of Sikkim Act, 1974 establishes a responsible government based on an elected Legislative Assembly.
The 35th Constitutional Amendment Act grants Sikkim the status of an Associate State by inserting Article 2A and the Tenth Schedule — expressly a transitional measure.
The Sikkim Legislative Assembly unanimously resolves to abolish the institution of the Chogyal and seek full integration with India.
A special opinion poll (referendum) endorses the Assembly's resolution.
The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act takes effect and Sikkim becomes the 22nd State of India.
Article 371F
Special provisions for Sikkim, inserted by the 36th Amendment, protecting pre-existing laws, land rights and social arrangements.
Article 2A (repealed)
Inserted by the 35th Amendment to give Sikkim Associate State status; repealed by the 36th Amendment.
Tenth Schedule (as it then stood, repealed)
Contained the terms of Sikkim's association; omitted by the 36th Amendment. The present Tenth Schedule on anti-defection was inserted later by the 52nd Amendment, 1985.
First Schedule
Amended to include Sikkim in the list of States of the Union.
Indo-Sikkim Treaty, 1950
Made Sikkim an Indian protectorate, the arrangement that preceded association and statehood.
Sikkim is the only Indian state to have joined the Union through this sequence — protectorate, then Associate State, then full statehood — which makes it constitutionally unique. The Associate State category created by the 35th Amendment was used once and abandoned within a year, so Article 2A has no successor and the experiment is not repeatable. Article 371F matters because it shows how the Constitution accommodates a territory joining with its own established legal system: rather than sweeping away Sikkim's pre-existing laws, the Article preserved them until competent authority chose to change them, and protected existing rights in land. That approach — integration with continuity — recurs across the Part XXI special provisions for North Eastern states, and is the point most worth drawing out in a Mains answer on asymmetric federalism.
36th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 — made Sikkim the 22nd State of India.
Statehood effective 16 May 1975.
Repealed Article 2A and the then Tenth Schedule, which had made Sikkim an Associate State under the 35th Amendment, 1974.
Inserted Article 371F — special provisions for Sikkim.
Indo-Sikkim Treaty 1950 — protectorate status; the Chogyal was the hereditary ruler.
Tripartite Agreement 8 May 1973; Government of Sikkim Act 1974.
Assembly resolution 10 April 1975; referendum 14 April 1975.
The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 made Sikkim the 22nd State of India, with statehood taking effect on 16 May 1975.
The 35th Amendment (1974) gave Sikkim the transitional status of an 'Associate State' by inserting Article 2A and the Tenth Schedule. The 36th Amendment (1975) repealed both and made Sikkim a full state.
Article 371F contains special provisions for Sikkim, including continuity of laws in force before statehood and protection of existing rights and interests, particularly in land.
The Chogyal was Sikkim's hereditary monarch. The institution was abolished after the Sikkim Legislative Assembly's resolution of 10 April 1975 and the referendum that followed.