Article 2A – Sikkim to be Associated with the Union — Omitted

Article 2A dealt with the constitutional relationship between Sikkim and the Union of India. It was introduced through the Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974, when Sikkim was made an “Associate State” of India.

Article 2A is no longer part of the Constitution. It was subsequently omitted by the Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975, when Sikkim became a full-fledged State of India.

Therefore, Article 2A is mainly important from a constitutional history and examination perspective.

Background of Article 2A

Before becoming a State of India, Sikkim had a distinct constitutional relationship with India.

The Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974 introduced a special arrangement under which Sikkim became an Associate State of the Union of India.

This arrangement was different from becoming a full State.

To give constitutional effect to this arrangement, the amendment:

• Inserted Article 2A
• Added a new Tenth Schedule
• Provided for Sikkim’s association with the Union
• Created a constitutional framework for the relationship between Sikkim and India

Article 2A therefore represented an intermediate stage in Sikkim’s constitutional integration with India.

What Did Article 2A Provide?

Article 2A provided for Sikkim to be associated with the Union.

The provision operated together with the constitutional arrangements introduced through the Thirty-Fifth Amendment.

The arrangement did not make Sikkim a full State of India. Instead, Sikkim occupied the special position of an Associate State.

The constitutional relationship was therefore different from the relationship between the Union and the States recognised under Article 1.

Associate State Status

The concept of an Associate State was introduced specifically for Sikkim.

Sikkim was not treated as an ordinary State under the Constitution at this stage.

Instead, the arrangement attempted to establish a special constitutional relationship between Sikkim and India while preserving certain aspects of Sikkim’s distinct position.

This arrangement was short-lived.

Within a year, the constitutional position of Sikkim changed fundamentally.

Omission of Article 2A

Article 2A was omitted by the Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975.

The reason was that the Associate State arrangement was replaced when Sikkim became a full State of the Indian Union.

The Thirty-Sixth Amendment therefore marked a significant change in Sikkim’s constitutional status.

The amendment:

• Omitted Article 2A
• Removed the constitutional framework relating to Sikkim as an Associate State
• Omitted the Tenth Schedule introduced for the earlier arrangement
• Made Sikkim a State of India
• Added Sikkim to the First Schedule
• Inserted Article 371F, containing special provisions for Sikkim

Thus, Article 2A became redundant after Sikkim’s transition from Associate State to full State.

Thirty-Fifth Amendment vs Thirty-Sixth Amendment

Understanding the two amendments is particularly important for examinations.

Thirty-Fifth Amendment, 1974	Thirty-Sixth Amendment, 1975
Introduced the Associate State arrangement	Ended the Associate State arrangement
Inserted Article 2A	Omitted Article 2A
Added the Tenth Schedule	Omitted the Tenth Schedule
Associated Sikkim with India	Made Sikkim a full State of India
Created an intermediate constitutional status	Established Sikkim as a State under Article 1

The sequence can be remembered simply as:

1974 → Sikkim becomes an Associate State

1975 → Sikkim becomes a full State

Article 2A and Article 2

Article 2A should not be confused with Article 2.

Article 2

Article 2 gives Parliament the power to admit into the Union or establish new States on such terms and conditions as it considers appropriate.

Article 2A

Article 2A was a specific and temporary constitutional provision concerning Sikkim’s association with the Union.

Article 2A therefore had a very different historical purpose from the general power contained in Article 2.

Article 2A and Article 1

Article 1 declares:

“India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.”

Sikkim was not immediately made a State through the 1974 arrangement.

The Associate State status created by Article 2A was an intermediate constitutional arrangement. Once Sikkim became a full State in 1975, it became part of the constitutional framework of States under Article 1.

Article 371F and Sikkim

After Article 2A was omitted, the Thirty-Sixth Amendment inserted Article 371F.

Article 371F contains special provisions relating to the administration and constitutional position of Sikkim.

This is why students studying Article 2A should also remember:

Article 2A → Associate State arrangement

Article 371F → Special constitutional provisions for Sikkim after statehood

Why Was Article 2A Omitted?

Article 2A was omitted because the constitutional status it created was no longer required.

Sikkim’s position changed from an Associate State to a full State of India.

Once this happened, the special constitutional arrangement created by Article 2A was replaced by the constitutional framework applicable to Sikkim as a State, together with the special provisions contained in Article 371F.

Therefore, Article 2A is now a historical provision rather than an operative constitutional provision.

Constitutional Significance

Although Article 2A is omitted, it remains relevant for understanding the development of India’s territorial and constitutional structure.

It demonstrates that the Constitution has, at different points in India’s history, accommodated special constitutional relationships with particular territories.

It also illustrates how constitutional amendments can modify the territorial and political structure of the Union.

The history of Article 2A therefore provides a useful example of the constitutional evolution of Sikkim from an Associate State to a full State of India.

Important Features of Article 2A

1. It Concerned Sikkim

Article 2A was specifically concerned with Sikkim.

2. It Was Introduced in 1974

It was inserted through the Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974.

3. It Created Associate State Status

Sikkim became an Associate State rather than an ordinary State of India.

4. It Was Temporary

The arrangement lasted for only a short period.

5. It Was Omitted in 1975

The Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975 omitted Article 2A.

6. Sikkim Became a Full State

After the Thirty-Sixth Amendment, Sikkim became a full State of India.

7. Article 371F Was Introduced

Special constitutional provisions for Sikkim were provided through Article 371F.

Common Confusion

A common mistake is to say that Article 2A currently provides for Sikkim’s association with India.

That is incorrect.

Article 2A is omitted.

The present constitutional position of Sikkim is that it is a State of India. Article 2A should therefore be studied as a historical constitutional provision connected with Sikkim’s transition to statehood.

Another common mistake is to confuse Article 2A with Article 371F.

The two provisions belong to different stages of Sikkim’s constitutional development:

• Article 2A → Associate State arrangement
• Article 371F → Special provisions for Sikkim after it became a State

Exam Relevance

Article 2A is particularly relevant for questions concerning:

• Sikkim’s constitutional history
• Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974
• Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975
• Associate State of India
• Omitted provisions of the Constitution
• Article 2A and Article 2
• Article 2A and Article 371F
• Constitutional development of Sikkim

For examinations, remember the sequence:

Thirty-Fifth Amendment, 1974 → Article 2A → Sikkim as Associate State

Thirty-Sixth Amendment, 1975 → Article 2A omitted → Sikkim becomes a State

Important Points to Remember

Concept	What to Remember
Article	Article 2A
Subject	Sikkim to be associated with the Union
Status	Omitted
Introduced by	Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974
Purpose	Provided for Sikkim’s association with India as an Associate State
Omitted by	Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975
Result	Sikkim became a full State of India
Related Article	Article 371F
Historical Significance	Represents an intermediate stage in Sikkim’s constitutional integration

Quick Revision

• Article 2A dealt with the association of Sikkim with the Union of India.
• It was introduced by the Thirty-Fifth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1974.
• Sikkim was given the status of an Associate State.
• Article 2A was omitted by the Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975.
• The Thirty-Sixth Amendment made Sikkim a full State of India.
• The amendment also inserted Article 371F, providing special constitutional provisions for Sikkim.
• Article 2A is therefore a historical and omitted provision.
• It should not be described as an operative provision of the present Constitution.

Conclusion

Article 2A represents a brief but important stage in the constitutional history of Sikkim’s integration with India. Introduced in 1974, it established the framework under which Sikkim became an Associate State of the Union.

The arrangement was subsequently replaced by Sikkim’s full statehood under the Thirty-Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 1975, which omitted Article 2A and introduced special constitutional provisions for Sikkim through Article 371F.

For students, the most important point is the constitutional sequence: Article 2A was introduced for Sikkim’s Associate State status in 1974 and omitted when Sikkim became a full State in 1975.