THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday lauded his Goa counterpart P S Sreedharan Pillai for setting a new benchmark in gubernatorial responsibilities by using his personal book royalty earnings to fund social welfare initiatives. At the launch of Annadhan, a free meal project, at the Goa Raj Bhavan, Arlekar said Pillai has initiated a new approach in the functioning of governors, moving away from the administrative style of British India. There has been a clear change in the way

PANAJI: The opposition parties in Goa have targeted the Pramod Sawant government over alleged corruption after the removal of Art and Culture minister Govind Gaude from the state cabinet. Gaude was on Wednesday dropped from the state cabinet, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The notification issued by state Under Secretary (General Administration) Shreyas DSilva did not mention the official reason for his sacking.

Goa Minister Govind Gaude was removed from the state Cabinet on Wednesday, nearly a month after he alleged corruption within the tribal welfare department, which is headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The Goa governor accepted the CM's recommendation, confirmed by BJP's Goa unit chief Damodar Naik, although the official reason for the dismissal remains undisclosed.

PANAJI: Goa Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude was on Wednesday dropped from the state cabinet, almost a month after he alleged corruption in the tribal welfare department headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Gaude called the decision a reward for him on Goa Revolution Day, which is celebrated on June 18 every year. BJP Goa unit president Damodar Naik confirmed to PTI that Gaude was removed from the council of ministers. State Under Secretary (General Administration) Shreyas D'Silva said t

The state needs to be firm in its resolve to put an efficient and transparent system in place Once again, the coastal MLAs had their way. On Friday, following pressure from them, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that taxi aggregators from outside the state, such as Ola and Uber, would not be introduced in Goa. []

Goa's taxi landscape is changing. Local app-based platforms are becoming popular. Around 5,000 taxis are now on these apps. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced restrictions on outside cab aggregators. This move boosts local services like Goa Miles and Goa Taxi App. Goa Miles transports 15,000 passengers daily. The Goa Taxi App has 1,000 taxis.

Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assures that new cab aggregator guidelines won't favor Ola and Uber. Local taxi operators expressed concerns about potential competition from national firms. BJP MLAs met with the Chief Minister to discuss these worries. The government will hold a meeting with stakeholders before finalising the guidelines. The aim is to protect local taxi businesses.

Goa's medical fraternity called off their strike after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant accepted their seven demands, addressing concerns over Health Minister Vishwajit Rane's verbal abuse of a senior doctor. The government signed an MOU, promising increased security measures and a commitment to prevent future incidents.

Felicitates iconic Goan brands on 39th Statehood Day Panaji: Calling upon every Goan, especially the youth, to contribute towards the states progress by 2037, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said we can make Goem Viksit if we put in extra effort. Speaking during the 39th Goa Statehood Day celebration held at the Dinanath Mangeshkar []

Special Correspondent Panaji: There are strong indications that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may initiate action against Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude following his recent controversial statement alleging corruption in the department of tribal welfare held by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant himself. According to highly placed party sources, the state unit of BJP []

Goa has achieved 100% literacy under the ULLAS Nav Bharat Literacy Programme, a central government initiative aligning with the National Education Policy 2020. The program targeted individuals over 15 who missed formal schooling, focusing on functional literacy skills. Goa's success is attributed to sustained efforts in education and the mobilization of volunteers, including teachers and students.

On May 23, 2023, a white sail appeared on the horizon off the coast of Goa. Had it been a century ago, the bastions of Fort Aguada and Reis Magos, perched on the cliffs overlooking the bay, might have roared to life and fired upon the approaching vessel. But on that balmy afternoon, the yacht was met with a no-less thunderous applause from the Boat Pool of INS Mandovi, the Indian Navy's premier training establishment. The vessel was none other than the much-awaited INSV Tarini, a 55-foot indigen

PANAJI: Hours after six devotees lost their lives in a stampede during a temple festival in Goa, the state government on Saturday ordered the transfer of five senior officials, including the North Goa collector and the superintendent of police. In order to ensure free and fair inquiry, the government has transferred District Collector Sneha Gitte, Superintendent of Police (North) Akshat Kaushal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Bicholim) Jivba Dalvi, Deputy Collector (Bicholim) Bhimnath Khorjuve

Pramod Sawant, Goa's Chief Minister, has ordered an inquiry into a stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgao. The incident occurred during an annual festival, resulting in six fatalities. Sawant visited the site and the injured at the hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his support. The inquiry report will be released publicly.

PANAJI: At least six persons were killed, and several sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during a temple festival in North Goa, officials said on Saturday. The incident occurred at Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village in the wee hours of the day, a senior police officer said. Thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka had gathered at the temple for the festival, he said, adding that the exact cause of the stampede would be ascertained after a probe. At least six p

A stampede at the revered Shri Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgao, Goa, has claimed at least six lives and injured over 15 during the annual Zatra festival. Thousands had gathered for the dhondachi zatra ritual, which involves walking barefoot on burning embers. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the incident. Emergency services responded swiftly, and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited hospitals to assess the situation. The event has left the state reeling and the administration under

Goa CM Pramod Sawant predicted the potential split of Pakistan due to Balochistan's independence push, assuring BJP workers of PM Modi's retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. He contrasted India's growing Muslim population and secular harmony with Pakistan's insularity.

NEW DELHI: Around 272 Pakistani nationals have left India in the past two days through the Attari-Wagah border point, and a few hundred more are expected to exit on Sunday when the deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the neighbouring nation ends, an official said. As many as 629 Indians, including 13 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab. The 'Leave India' notice to the Pakistani nationals was iss

Special Correspondent Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant chaired a meeting with Chief Secretary and Secretaries to various government departments at the Secretariat, on Monday to review the implementation of various government schemes and budget implementation. Discussions were also held on streamlining execution and ensuring effective delivery of services to every Goan. Later, Sawant said that []

Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, addressing the gathering at the 43rd Foundation Day of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) held in Ahmedabad virtually, said India is pacing fast on the path of becoming a foremost startup nation and that Goa too is looking at erecting a strong start-up-orientated ecosystem. Sawant praised Gujarats development []

Amaravati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union ministers and chief ministers on Sunday extended birthday greetings to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, G Kishan Reddy, among others, wished Naidu on his 75th birthday. Chief Ministers Revanth Reddy, Devendra Fadnavis, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Pramod Sawant, Nayab Saini, and others Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on

Sakhali: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday assured the residents of Bhoma that no house or temple would be demolished or endangered due to the proposed road project in the village. The residents of Bhoma have in the past few weeks upped the ante against the proposed widening of the Bhoma-Old Goa stretch of the []

Staff Reporter Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Wednesday that henceforth no new sanad (a certificate granting permission for non-agricultural use) will be issued for farmlands, as per the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural LandAct, 2023, When mediapersons pointed out that despite notifying the new agriculture policy by the government, paddy fields are []

The government must adopt short- and long-term measures to end the menace Begging activity has come into focus again. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has declared that activities such as begging, offering massages on the beach and touting would be completely banned and violators immediately arrested. In another case, an activist lawyer moved the High Court []

Goa CM Pramod Sawant announced a uniform colour code for government buildings and structural audits for safety, along with eco-friendly initiatives like vertical gardens and green corridors.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the legislative assembly that the state government will recover maximum pending dues from casinos by March 31. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao claimed pending revenue worth Rs 350 crore. Allegations of live gaming were raised, and Sawant promised inspections. Four cases against onshore casinos are under investigation.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has been named the convenor of the GoM on GST revenue analysis, as decided in the 55th GST Council meeting. The GoM will focus on state-wise revenue trends, sectoral issues, the impact of policy changes, and suggest measures for revenue enhancement, especially for states with high shortfalls.

Goa's government has secured land in Ayodhya to build 'Ram Nivas,' a dedicated lodging for Shri Ramlala Virajman devotees, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced. This project aims to enhance spiritual connections between Goa and Ayodhya. Sawant acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh authorities for their support in making this initiative possible.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attended and addressed the National Sagarmala Apex Committee Meeting, chaired by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of his cabinet colleague Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi.

Special Correspondent Panaji Dismissing the bribery allegation levelled by the former BJP minister, Pandurang Madkaikar against the state cabinet ministers, the National BJP general secretary, Arun Singh on Thursday said that Madkaikar is a liar and that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant there is no corruption. This statement comes amidst allegations by []

The Goa government announced new initiatives like the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance, which will provide Business Management Training to MSMEs and work towards transforming 1,600 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into MSMEs

PANAJI: A man has been arrested in Goa for possessing hydroponic weed valued at Rs 11.67 crore, police said, claiming it is the biggest seizure of drugs in the history of the coastal state. The man was arrested on Saturday from Guirim village, located between Panaji and Mapusa cities, a police crime branch spokesperson said. We seized 11.672 kilograms of hydroponic weed valued at Rs 11.67 crore from him. This is biggest seizure of drugs in Goa's history. He has been booked under the Narcotic Dru

Staff Reporter Panaji The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has reconstituted its Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Analysis of revenue from GST, appointing Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as the convenor of the panel. The GoM includes Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Chhattisgarh Finance Minister O P Choudhary, Gujarat Finance and Energy []

Special Correspondent Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday appealed to the Goan women having good communication skills to enrol in the governments work-from-home initiative. We have partnered with Reliance Jio to make this possible and so far, 50 per cent of women have been selected for this scheme at the job fair in Sankhali, []

Former Goa minister and BJP leader Pandurang Madaikar on Thursday slammed his own government as corrupt and incompetent after a minister allegedly took a bribe from him. Stating that no work happens under the Pramod Sawant-led government, Madaikar alleged that all the ministers are usy counting money. Loot is going on.Nothing is moving. They are only busy counting money. All ministers are busy counting money. Nothing is happening in Goa, Madaikar said. Speaking to reporters after a one-on-one m

Staff Reporter Calangute Despite Goa having no power cuts or load shedding, unlike neighbouring states, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said people are reluctant to pay their dues, stating that the government bears a loss of Rs 2 per unit. Speaking at the virtual foundation stone-laying ceremony for infrastructure projects worth Rs 100 crore []

Special Correspondent Panaji BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh, who had visited Goa on Tuesday, met a number of state office bearers of the party, besides the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the state BJP president Damodar Naik and reviewed the functioning of the party and the state administration. Later, Naik said that []

Staff Reporter Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the government is ready to reconstruct Porvorims Dev Khapreshwar temple at a location decided by either a committee or the devotees. The temple was recently demolished under strong opposition by locals and devotees to facilitate the construction of the elevated corridor at Porvorim. Porvorim MLA []