Himachal Pradesh becomes the 18th state

The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970 was passed by Parliament on 18 December 1970 and received assent on 31 December 1970. On 25 January 1971 Himachal Pradesh became the eighteenth state of the Indian Union, proclaimed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the Ridge in Shimla.

Dr. Y. S. Parmar, who had led the demand since 1946, became the first Chief Minister of the full state. The Himachal Pradesh High Court came into existence the same day.