Sikkim Assembly Tables Six New Bills to Overhaul Education and Medical Oversight

Gangtok: Sikkim lawmakers kicked off a four-day Budget session Monday by dropping six fresh bills. The proposals aim to tighten education standards and regulate alternative medicine. Lawmakers will debate and vote on these measures throughout the week.

Ayush Minister G.T. Dhungel led the charge with the Sikkim Medical Council for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2026. This legislation targets the creation of a statutory body. It will oversee professionals practicing Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy across the state.

Education Minister Raju Basnet introduced a trio of bills focused on schools and universities. He tabled the Sikkim Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to tweak the 2025 parent laws. Basnet also pushed the Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education Sikkim (Amendment) Bill, 2026, designed to align local rules with the National Education Policy. He additionally presented the Board of Open Schooling and Vocational Education, Sikkim Bill, 2026, clearing a path for a private open schooling board.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang took the floor to introduce the National Council for Skill Education, Sikkim (Repealing) Bill, 2026. This move scraps 2023 legislation tied to skill education. He also tabled the Sikkim Fire and Emergency Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This specific bill "aims to decriminalise minor regulatory offences, simplify compliance requirements and improve the ease of doing business." Legislators have three days left to hammer out the details.