The Pramod Sawant-led government has been promoting a subsidy scheme providing Rs 200 per clay idol for up to 250 idols.

Goa's government is set to create a comprehensive taxi policy by September 10, addressing transparency, security, and fair pricing in the taxi sector. This initiative follows discussions between officials and taxi associations, aiming to replace current cab aggregator guidelines with a state-specific policy.

The chief minister and his cabinet colleagues held a meeting with representatives of taxi associations at the Mantralaya in Porvorim on Friday evening

BJP MLAs Ramesh Tawadkar and Digambar Kamat were sworn in as ministers in the Goa cabinet led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday.

Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Ramesh Tawadkar were sworn in as ministers in the Pramod Sawant-led state cabinet on Thursday. Tawadkar, representing Canacona, resigned as Speaker before taking the oath, while Kamat, previously a Congress CM, joined the BJP in September 2022. Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju administered the oath at Raj Bhavan.

Hours before the swearing-in, Ramesh Tawadkar resigned as the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly

Sequeira handed over his resignation letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the afternoon

Unauthorised security agencies to be closed down Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said innovation, involvement, and investment form the foundation for the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swayampurna Goa. Addressing the 79th Independence Day state-level function in Panaji, Sawant highlighted the ongoing efforts to empower local artisans, particularly in rural areas, through initiatives []

HT Bureau Guwahati, August 12: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said Goa has become the second state, after Manipur, to send its police personnel for training at the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy in Dergaon, describing the collaboration as a manifestation of national integration. Sarma, along with his Goa counterpart Pramod Sawant, attended []

Assam's Lachit Borphukan Police Academy celebrated the graduation of 700 Goa Police recruits, including 131 women. Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pramod Sawant emphasized the training's role in strengthening ties between the states.

GUWAHATI: Goa became the second state after Manipur to send its police recruits to Assam for training. Marking a milestone in interstate police cooperation, 700 police recruits from the western Indian state graduated from the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy in Assams Dergaon on Tuesday. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with his Goa counterpart Pramod Sawant, attended the passing out parade. The recruits, who underwent a 43-week gruelling training in physical fitness, mental resili

Special Correspondent Panaji Admitting that the government has received multiple complaints of outsiders adopting Goan surnames, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that if required, the government will take necessary steps to further amend the Change of Name and Surname (Amendment) Act, 2022, so as to make it more stringent and prevent its misuse. []

Special Correspondent Panaji Stating that there is no recruitment ban in Goa as far as filling vacancies at Goa University is concerned, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the government has adopted alternative measures to improve the universitys NAAC rating. The Goa government has been supporting Goa University with regards to infrastructure. For the []

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the legislative assembly that the state government was considering a ban on the sale of glass liquor bottles near beaches and replacing them with cans.

The Goa government has earned more than Rs 1,661 crore as recurring fees from onshore and offshore casinos over the last five years, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said in the state assembly.

Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju takes oath of office Panaji: Former Union minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju was sworn in as the Governor of Goa on Saturday, succeeding P S Sreedharan Pillai. Raju was administered the oath of office at the Raj Bhavan by Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Alok Aradhe. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant []

Responding to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's lost his mental balance remarks amid row over Mahadayi project, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday called it Congress culture.

PANAJI: The Goa legislative assembly has passed a bill to raise the daily work hour limit in factories from nine to ten to facilitate the 'Ease of Doing Business'. The assembly on Thursday night passed the bill seeking to amend provisions of the Factories Act, to extend daily working hours in factories and increase the permissible limit for overtime work. The Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill was tabled by the State Factories and Boilers Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar on Thursday during the ongoing mo

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday hit back at Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over his remarks on the Mahadayi river project, saying he had lost his mental balance and that the state would proceed with the project.

In a significant political development during the monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called for the introduction of an anti-conversion law to combat what he termed as forced conversions and cases of love jihad. Drawing parallels with states like Uttar Pradesh that have already implemented similar legislation, Sawant stated that Continue reading Goa CM Pramod Sawant Proposes Anti-Conversion Law Amid Rising Concerns Over Love Jihad Network The post Goa C

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has strongly criticized Goa CM Pramod Sawant's remarks regarding the Mahadayi river water project, deeming them an insult to the people of Karnataka. Karnataka vows to fight for its rightful share of the project legally, politically, and morally, emphasizing the project's importance for North Karnataka's drinking water needs.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reportedly made a statement in the Legislative Assembly that Union Minister for Environment and Forests Bhupendra Yadav informed him that the Central government will not approve the Mahadayi project

Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant wants an anti-conversion law. He says it will address 'love jihad' cases. The opposition criticizes the proposal. Vijai Sardesai claims there are no such cases in Goa. Sawant clarifies the law targets forced conversions only. He says consensual interfaith marriages are not the target. The debate continues in the state assembly.

NT Reporter Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said there was a need to bring an anti-conversion law against forceful religious conversions. Sawants statement comes in the wake of Uttar Pradesh police recently busting a large-scale illegal religious conversion racket and arresting 10 individuals, including one from Goa. Speaking on the floor of the []

NT Reporter Panaji Stating that there are ample employment opportunities for youth in Goa as well as in other parts of India, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday assured to look into the issue of detention of Goan youth in US jails due to visa and documentation issues. Sawant was responding to the issue raised []

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced plans to introduce anti-conversion laws, similar to Uttar Pradesh, to combat 'love jihad' cases. He claimed that Goa had previously reported such cases and promised to release the data soon.

The in-hand hike would be up to 51%, Goa Chief MinisterPramod Sawant said at a press conference.

The Pramod Sawant government has rolled out Goa AI Mission 2027, a visionary roadmap to build an inclusive and future-ready Artificial Intelligence ecosystem, officials said.

A panel of State Finance Ministers, chaired by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, is currently studying tax evasion in specific sectors and looking at ways to check ITC fraud

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has launched the first privately owned solar-electric passenger cruise boat in Mandovi river.

Special Correspondent Panaji The four-member fact-finding committee headed by the retired High Court judge RMS Khandeparkar appointed to probe the paper leak case at Goa University has submitted its report to the state government. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that the panel has submitted its findings and stated that the report has been forwarded to []

EDITORIAL Meeting with stakeholders must result in resolutions to major long-pending issue On Thursday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant chaired a meeting of stakeholders to understand their pain points. Several issues came up. Responding to them, he assured them that their grievances would be looked into in preparation for the next tourist season beginning in October []

NT Reporter Panaji Citing a recent incident of assault and carjacking of a taxi driver in North Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the government is actively exploring technology-driven reforms to enhance safety, accountability and traceability in the states taxi sector, which has long been criticised for a lack of regulation and digital []

NT Reporter Panaji The state government will introduce a bill soon to ban ferocious dog breeds Pitbull and Rottweiler, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday. Stating that the bill will be brought in the upcoming monsoon session of the assembly, scheduled to commence on July 21, Sawant said the cabinet has given its nod []

Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday relaunched the Chief Minister Scholarship Portalan integrated online platform bringing all state and central government scholarship schemes under one roof. The portal, developed by the Department of Social Welfare, allows students to apply for pre-matric, post-matric, and other scholarships in a streamlined, single-window system. Students and institutions can []

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is preparing to take the issue to the Centre, seeking intervention to cap or regulate fares during the most crucial tourism months

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