PANAJI
The Ministry of Law and Justice has asked the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to initiate the process of ascertaining the Scheduled Tribes (ST) population in Goa, a key step towards implementing the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, which provides for reservation of Assembly seats for STs in the State.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, the Legislative Department informed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner that the Act came into force with effect from August 6, 2026, following its notification in the Official Gazette.
The Ministry has asked the Census Commissioner to take necessary action under Section 3 of the Act, which requires the ST population in Goa, based on the latest census, to be ascertained or estimated. The population figures are thereafter to be officially notified in the Gazette of India.
"As soon as may be after the commencement of the Act, the population as at the last census of the Scheduled Tribes in the State of Goa shall be ascertained or estimated by the Census Commissioner, and the population figures so ascertained or estimated shall be notified by the Census Commissioner in the Gazette of India," Additional Legislative Counsel Shanti Bhushan said in the letter. The communication states that the exercise is essential for commencing the readjustment of representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa's Assembly constituencies as mandated under the Act.
"In view of the above, you are therefore requested to do further necessary action in accordance with the provision of the said Act," the letter added.
A copy of the letter has also been marked to the Election Commission of India. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the Ministry has directed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to fast-track the implementation of the Act. The development comes days after the Centre formally brought the legislation into force. The law provides the framework for identifying Assembly constituencies to be reserved for Scheduled Tribes based on their population distribution. The notified ST population figures will form the basis for the subsequent process of determining which constituencies will be reserved for Scheduled Tribes candidates. The government is optimistic that four constituencies – Sanguem, Quepem, Priol and Nuvem will be reserved for STs. Following this, the Delimitation Commission will begin amending the Delimitation Order (constituency delimitation) to provide appropriate representation to STs in the State, in accordance with Articles 170 and 332 of the Constitution and the Delimitation Act.
Only then will the Election Commission notify the reserved constituencies.
