• The Golden Jubilee celebrations of statehood of Himachal Pradesh was organised with great enthusiasm and fervor across the state on 25^th of January, 2021.
• The state-level Golden Jubilee function was held at the historic Ridge of Shimla while functions were also organised at all district headquarters to mark this special occasion. BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur also graced the occasion.
• This is the same venue where former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi addressed a large gathering, amidst cheers and exuberance on January 25, 1971, to confer full statehood for Himachal Pradesh as 18th state of the Union of India, created under an Act of Parliament.

History of Himachal Statehood

• Himachal Pradesh came into being on April 15, 1948, as a centrally administered territory following the integration of 30 erstwhile princely states.
• It was categorised as a ‘C’ state in 1951. The population of Himachal Pradesh was 9,83,367 and area 10,451 square miles.
• In March 1952 Dr Y S Parmar, a towering political figure of the state took over as first Chief Minister heading a three-member cabinet.
• In 1956, there was a recommendation to merge it with Punjab put forth by the State Reorganisation Commission, but Himachal retained its identity and became a union territory.
• In 1963, the Assembly was revived with Dr Parmar becoming Chief Minister for the second time.