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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on June 18, 2025

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What is the significance of the Shipki La pass?

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international significance

For Mains Examination: GS I - Indian Geography

Context:

Himachal Pradesh has opened the Shipki La pass, a motorable mountain pass in the Kinnaur district, to domestic tourists, a step which locals hope will revitalise tourism and trade.

Read about:

Important passes of Himalayan range

Historical significance of these passes

Key takeaways:

• Shipki La Pass, a motorable mountain pass in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, has been recently opened to domestic tourists—a move that locals believe could rejuvenate both tourism and traditional trade.
• Long before geopolitical boundaries shaped the region, Shipki La functioned as a major trade route connecting India and Tibet (now part of China). Perched at an altitude of 3,930 meters, the pass has been part of trade records since the 15th century, though oral traditions indicate its usage predates that.
• As per local folklore, the trade was governed by a sacred vow between the communities on either side: “Until the waters of Kailash Manasarovar dry up, a black crow turns white, and Mount Rijo Pugal flattens, this trade shall continue.” This symbolic promise represented a bond that endured for generations until disrupted by political events.
• The flourishing trade through Shipki La was first interrupted by the Sino-Indian War of 1962, with further disruptions after the Doklam standoff and the COVID-19 pandemic. Although commercial trade remains suspended, the recent decision by the Chief Minister to allow tourism access without prior permits—only requiring an Aadhaar card—has sparked hope throughout the region.
• The tribal communities of Kinnaur, particularly those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, have longstanding cultural and economic ties with their Tibetan counterparts.
• Historically, trade involved the Bushahr State (now Rampur) in India and the Guge Kingdom in Tibet. The Kinnaur Indo-China Trade Association has formally requested the resumption of trade through Shipki La. The Chief Minister has promised to discuss the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The historical trade route facilitated the exchange of a variety of goods. From Tibet, India received high-value imports like wool, yaks, goats, devotional items (including prayer wheels and thangkas), gold