PANAJI
The State cabinet on Tuesday accorded its approval to a Bill proposing establishment of State Public Universities in Goa.
The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant approved Goa Public University Bill, 2025, that will be tabled in the ongoing monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly.
The Bill proposes establishing State Public Universities in Goa and for which a provision of Rs 25 crore has been made.
Goa University is currently the only State public university, which was established in 1985. The government has already introduced an amendment to the Goa Private Universities Act to allow the private universities to set up off-campus until the permanent campus is in place.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who also holds the Education portfolio introduced The Goa Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025 earlier this week which seeks to amend section 6 of the 2020 law introducing a phrase therein which states that the private universities may “possess an off-campus centre adhering to the guidelines of the regulatory body so as to start the operation of the university in the initial stages until the expiry of the maximum period specified in subsection (2) of this section or until the main campus is established, whichever is earlier.”
In the statement of objects and reasons in the bill, it is stated that the amendment is being enacted to “expedite” establishment of private universities in Goa and allow setting up of transitional off-campus centre until the main campus is established.
Shops Act to be repealed
In yet another decision, the cabinet approved repealing the Goa Shops and Establishment Act, 1973 and replacing it with the Goa Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2025.
Kurtikar is new GPSC Secretary
The cabinet also approved the appointment of Gourish Kurtikar to the post of Secretary of Goa Public Service Commission.
