Question

March, 2008 witnessed a turning point in the history of which of the following Himalayan Kingdoms when democracy was ushered in replacing monarchy?

• A. Bhutan
• B. Nepal
• C. Sikkim
• D. None of these

Hint:

This kingdom held its first elections and adopted a new constitution on 24 March 2008, months before Nepal became a republic.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks which Himalayan kingdom saw monarchy replaced by democracy specifically in March 2008. Two kingdoms, Bhutan and Nepal, both moved away from absolute royal rule around this period, so the exact month decides the answer.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Line up the actual dates of each country's transition rather than relying on which change is more famous, since Nepal's republic declaration is better known but happened later in the year.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuck had been preparing the country for democracy for years, and this culminated in the country's first parliamentary elections on 24 March 2008, held under a brand new constitution that turned Bhutan into a constitutional monarchy with an elected government running daily affairs.
Nepal's change came about two months afterward. Its Constituent Assembly, elected in April 2008, formally abolished the 240 year old Nepalese monarchy and declared the country a republic on 28 May 2008.
Sikkim is not relevant here at all since it stopped being an independent kingdom in 1975 when it joined India.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Since the change in March 2008 belongs to Bhutan, not Nepal, the correct option is Bhutan.