PM Modi releases commemorative coin on 50 years of Sikkim Statehood

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the “Sikkim@50: Where Progress meets purpose and nature nurtures growth” event in Gangtok, Sikkim on 29 May 2025. He also released a commemorative coin and stamp on the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood.

The event was part of the Sikkim government’s year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sikkim's statehood. 

The Prime Minister was to visit Gangtok to participate in the event, but he had to address the meeting virtually from Bagdogra airport in West Bengal, where his plane was stranded due to bad weather. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official tour of Sikkim, West Bengal, and Bihar on 29 and 30 May 2025. 

PM Modi's engagement in Sikkim 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the “Sikkim@50: Where Progress meets purpose and nature nurtures growth” event in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim.

The event was attended by the Governor of Sikkim, Om Prakash Mathur, and the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang.

• Speaking on the occasion, he said that the completion of the Sevoke-Rongpo railway line will soon connect Sikkim with the country's rail network.
• He congratulated Sikkim on launching the country's first organic fisheries cluster.
• Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various projects, such as a 500-bed district hospital in Namchi district and a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling, Pelling in Gyalshing District.  

50 years of Sikkim’s Statehood 

The Princely state of Sikkim joined the Union of India in 1974 as an associate state with the enactment of the 35th Constitutional Amendment Act 1974. 

• Following a referendum in 1975, around 97 per cent of the population approved Sikkim’s merger with India.
• The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act 1975 made Sikkim the 22nd state of India.
• To mark the occasion, the Sikkim government is organising a year-long celebration.
• The theme of the year-long celebration is - Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samarth Sikkim.

PM inaugurates CGD project in Alipurduar, West Bengal 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Alipurdur district of West Bengal on 29 May 2025. He laid the foundation stone of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Alipurdur and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal.

• The Rs 1010 crore project will provide piped natural gas to over 2.5 lakh households and 100 commercial establishments in these two districts.
• 19 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations will be set up to provide CNG in the area.

Commemorative Coins 

The government of India issues commemorative coins to mark some special events.

The commemorative coin is generally not legal tender and is issued for collection purposes only.

Legal tender means the coin can be used to buy goods and services from the market.

In 1964, the government of India issued the first commemorative coin, bearing the image of India’s first Prime Minister, to commemorate his birth anniversary.

Also Read: 

India’s first Organic Fisheries Cluster launched in Sikkim