Consider the following statements regarding the political developments in Sikkim leading to its merger with India: 1. The Sikkim State Congress spearheaded the democratic movement against the absolute monarchy in the late 1940s. 2. The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1975 abolished the institution of the Chogyal and integrated Sikkim as a full-fledged state. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Sikkim State Congress was founded in 1947 to demand popular democracy and administrative reform, making the first statement correct. The 36th Constitutional Amendment of 1975 formally repealed the special articles governing Sikkim's protectorate status, abolished the Chogyal office, and admitted it as the 22nd state, making the second statement correct. This marked the culmination of decades of popular political agitation.