December 17, 1907: On 17th December 1907( Earth Monkey Year) a historic Genja (contract) is signed and a modern monarchy was established in Bhutan , after nearly a century of civil strife or unrest. Trongsa Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck became Bhuatn’s first King. January 8, 1910: A landmark is achieved by the First Druk Gyalpo as the Treaty of Punakha is signed with British India. The ten-clause Treaty contained an article that stated, “British India would recognize Bhutan’s independence while Bhutan would remain guided by the latter in her external relations”. Bhutan gained many benefits from this treaty like the formal settlement of border issues with British India, opening of the trade link and others. Of all, it placed Bhutan in a secure zone as an independent buffer state. March 14, 1927 : Crown Prince Jigme Wangchuck is formally installed as the Second Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan. Around 1932 : Fifteen young men were sent to be trained under the Gurkha Rifles in Shillong, India. Upon their return, they recruited and trained about a hundred men who formed the first Bhutanese modern army. By 1940, more than a hundred men were trained under the Gurkhas. 1949: A Treaty with independent Indian is signed. The Treaty secures the independence and sovereignty of Bhutan and quells all apprehensions of Indian dominance over Bhutan. October 27, 1952: Crown Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck becomes the Third Druk Gyalpo. 1953: The Third Druk Gyalpo establishes the National Assembly of Bhutan. 1954: The Third Druk Gyalpo visits India as the Chief Guest for India’s Republic Day. 1956: His Majesty abolishes serfdom. September, 1958: Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visits Bhutan. 1959: A delegation led by Bhutan’s Prime Minister Jigme Palden Dorji visited New Delhi to discuss the development needs of the Kingdom. 1959: The National Assembly adopts the Thrimshung Chenmo which was discussed from 1953. 1961: Bhutan launches the first five year plan, with a budget of 1,747 lakh rupees fully funded by the Indian government. 1962: Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, invites Bhutan to be an observer to the Colombo Plan meeting in Melbourne. Ashi Tashi Dorji led Bhutan’s all-women delegation to observe the meeting. In the same year, Bhutan becomes a member of the Colombo Plan. 1967: His Majesty establishes the High Court and the first justices are appointed. 1968: The Bank of Bhutan is established. September 21, 1971: Bhutan becomes the 125th member of the United Nations (UN). September 1972 : His Royal Highness Prince Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 17, is installed as head of the Government during the 37thsession of the National Assembly. In the same year, intensive valley development project (IVDP) is launched. March 1974: The Governments of India and Bhutan formally sign the landmark Chukha Hydro Power project construction. In the same year, the first group of 20 tourists visit Bhutan. June 2, 1974 : His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is formally enthroned as the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. Bhutan’s first bank notes are introduced on the occasion. In the same year, the Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) is established. January 7, 1975: The Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan is established. 1976: His Majesty launches the Khamdang Integrated Project, the precussor to decentralization. 1981: His Majesty establishes the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchung (DYT). 1982: Bhutan’s Central Bank, the Royal Monetary Authority is established. 1983: Druk Air service is introduced. 1988: The Chukha Hydropower Project is commissioned. 1991: The Gewog Yargay Tshogchung (GYT) is established. June 10, 1998 : His Majesty issues a Kasho further delegating his executive powers with the establishment of the Council of Ministers. July 26, 1999 : the National Assembly enacts the Lhengye Zhungtshog Act 1999. September 4, 2001: His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo issues a Kasho (decree) stating that a written Constitution should be promulgated for the Kingdom. 2002 : For the first time local leaders are elected through universal suffrage and the DYT and GYT Chathrims adopted. December 15, 2003 : His Majesty leads Bhutanese armed forces and militia to flush out Indian Militants living in Bhutan. Within three days of the operation, all the 30 main camps and 35 training camps are destroyed. About 841 arms and 144,000 ammunitions, canons, anti-craft guns and missiles are recovered. 11 Bhutanese soldiers lose their lives. March 25, 2005: The Draft Constitution is distributed to every Bhutanese within and outside the country and uploaded on the internet. October 26, 2005 : His Majesty begins the public consultations with the people starting from Thimphu. The Fifth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who was then Crown Prince, is also engaged. December 17, 2005: During the National Day celebration in Trashiyangtse, His Majesty announces that he would soon abdicate and democratic elections would take place soon. December 9, 2006: His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo abdicates from the Golden Throne and His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck becomes the Fifth Druk Gyalpo. February 2007: His Majesty visits India and the 1949 Treaty is revised. August 2007 : The Royal Education Council (REC) is established under the command of His Majesty. September 24, 2007: His Majesty commands the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) to resolve land issues once and for all. Following this, the NLCS carries out the National Cadastral Resurvey Program (NCRP) from June 2008 till December 2013, leading to an unpreedented granti ng of land kidu. From 2010 to February 2018, His Majesty grants a total of 133,287.765 acres of land as kidu to 123,265 beneficiaries in 171 gewogs across the country November 11, 2007: His Majesty issues a Royal Charter leading to the establishment of Druk Holding and Investments (DHI). Similarly, in November 2007, under Royal Command, the Forestry Development Corporation Limited (FDCL) becomes the Natural Resources Development Corporation Limited (NRDCL). December 2007: The elections for the National Council (NC) is undertaken. March, 2008: The National Assembly elections are held and Bhutan’s first democratically elected government formed. July 18, 2008: The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan is adopted. November 1, 2008: His Majesty is formally crowned the Fifth Druk Gyalpo and receives the Dhar Kha Nga, with the sacred Machen of Punakha Dzong. November 6, 2008: The coronation continues at Tashichhodzong,Thimphu and inside the Throne Room, His Majesty the King receives the Raven Crown from the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. December 22, 2009: During His Majesty’s visit to India, a memorandum of understanding is signed between the two countries for the establishment of the Bhutan Institute of Medical Sciences. Consequently, the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences is launched on February 28, 2015, by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen. February 14, 2011: His Majesty launches the De-suung Integrated Training Program. In the same year, under Royal command, His Majesty’s Secretariat initiates the National Rehabilitation Program (NRP), for poverty reduction by enhancing sustainable livelihoods, through means like increasing the productive asset base of the beneficiaries, especially landless farmers and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. April 3, 2011: The Kidu Foundation is established under the Office of the Gyalpoi Zimpon (OGZ) and Kidu reaches new heights. The first local government elections are held the same year. October 10, 2013: The Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS) is established. October 13, 2011: Punakha Dzong becomes the epicenter of the world as Bhutan celebrates the Royal Wedding of His Majesty to Her Majesty Jetsun Pema. March 5, 2014: Office of the Gyaltshab (His Majesty’s Representative) in the East is inaugurated at Gyalposhing, Monggar. His Royal Highness Jigme Dorji Wangchuck becomes the Gyaltshab, taking kidu closer to the people. September 2014: Bhutan becamomes part of the global force participating in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations as two officers from the Royal Bhutan Army and one officer from the Royal Body Guards leaves Bhutan to serve in the Middle East and Africa. February 21, 2015: Coinciding with His Majesty’s birthday, His Majesty grants a Royal Charter for establishing the BNLI, Bhutan’s first law school. February 5, 2016 : The Nation’s son is born as Her Majesty gives birth to His Royal Highness, Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck. February 21, 2016: His Majesty establishes the The Royal Academy at Pangbisa, Paro. October 2016: His Majesty personally grants dhars and kabneys to gups elected in the second local government elections. In December 2016, His Majesty awards patangs to Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT) Chairpersons. In the same month, the Royal Highlander festival is introduced at Langothang in Laya. December 17, 2019: His Majesty the King announces the launch of Gyalsung – National Service. March 6, 2020: Bhutan reports first COVID 19 patient and His Majesty personally leads the fight against the pandemic. March 19, 2020: The second Gyalsey, His Royal Highness Jigme Ugyen Wangchuck is born to Her Majesty. April 2020: Upon the command of His Majesty, the National Resilience Fund (NRF) is established to provide economic relief to people through the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (DGRK). The Relief Kidu grants monthly income support to individuals and loan interest payment support to borrowers for a period of one year (April 2020 – March 2021). May 15, 2020: The first batch of people living in Jaigoan, India are provided shelter at the homes built along the Toorsa in Phuentsholing. An estimated 5,000 people are evacuated and sheltered. December 17, 2020: His Majesty issues a Kasho calling for reforms in Education and the civil service. March 27, 2021: Bhutan begins the first vaccination drive againt COVID 19. April 2021: With the pandemic continuing to affect people, His Majesty commands the continuation of the DGRK for 15 more months, beginning April 2021. June 2021: In an unprecedented move, the NRF is funded in its entirety from His Majesty’s Kidu Fund and the Sungchob Fund. Between June 15 and July 15, 2021, 15,640,000 shares held in the names of Sungchob Fund and Kidu Fund are sold. July 20, 2021: The second dose of vaccination begins. August 2021: Bhutan begins vaccination of children aged 12-17.