Sikkim in 2018: From getting its first airport to becoming India's first organic state

Sikkim became India's first organic state, got its first airport and Pawan Kumar Chamling became the longest-serving chief minister in the country.

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Sikkim in 2018: From getting its first airport to becoming India's first organic state
2018 proved to be a fruitful year for Sikkim, here's how.

2018 proved to be a fruitful year for Sikkim. How?

1. It became India's first organic state, got its first airport and Pawan Kumar Chamling became the longest-serving chief minister in the country.

2. The tourist footfall in the state also increased after a dip last year, which had witnessed the Doklam standoff and the Gorkhaland statehood agitation.

3. Chief minister Chamling completed an unprecedented 24 years in office on December 12 after taking an oath for the first time as chief minister on the day in 1994.

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4. On April 29, the 68-year-old politician broke the record previously held by the late Jyoti Basu, who was the chief minister of West Bengal for 23 years, seven months and 17 days.

5. On the economic front, Sikkim made national headlines when it became a fully organic state by banning the supply of 30 non-organic food items with effect from April 1.

6. The supply and sale of non-organic food items, particularly vegetables, were prohibited through a notification issued by the home department.

7. Following a severe crisis of food items like cabbage, tomato and chilly, the state government lifted the ban imposed on the supply of these items from outside.

8. Chamling's push to make Sikkim India's first organic state brought international laurels. The state won the United Nations Food and Agriculture Future Policy Gold award which the chief minister received in Rome.

9. It was a great year for Sikkim for tourism. According to tourism department officials, the state received more than 14.25 lakh tourists who visited in 2017. The final data is yet to be made available.

10. In a boost to the tourism infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Himalayan state's first airport Pakyong Greenfield Airport on September 24.

11. Describing the country's 100th airport as a 'marvel of engineering works,' Modi said it will help boost the tourist footfall in the scenic state.

5 amazing facts about Sikkim

  • Till 1974, Sikkim was recognised as an independent nation. On May 16, 1975, Sikkim officially became the 22nd state in India

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    Sikkim has 11 official languages: Nepali, Sikkimese, Hindi, Lepcha, Tamang, Limbu, Newari, Rai, Gurung, Magar, Sunwar, and English

  • Sikkim has over 552 different species of birds and about 690 species of butterflies

  • The state has 28 mountain peaks and more than 80 glaciers

  • In the year 2011, Sikkim's adult literacy rate was 82.2 per cent; 87.29 per cent for males and 76.43 per cent for females

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Also read | Sikkim becomes world's first organic state, wins Oscar for best policies by UN

Also read | Sikkim to get its first airport: Facts about India's 100th airport

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