Goa was liberated from colonial rule in December 1961. Thereafter, a push to merge with Maharashtra sparked intense debate. This was firmly rejected through the historic 1967 Opinion Poll—preserving Goa’s identity and reinforcing Konkani as its linguistic foundation. All major parties backed statehood, and on May 30, 1987, Goa became India’s 25th state. This milestone, marked Statehood Day, followed by a strong movement to protect Goa’s unique culture.
Waves of transformation
Statehood gave power to the people, making them masters of their destiny and enabling the government to act faster on socio-economic programs. While Goa once managed well with just four ministers, statehood increased powers and the number of legislators rose from 30 to 40, making constituencies more manageable but also introducing challenges like increased political competition. Despite debates on how power has been used, statehood has undoubtedly brought greater financial, and political autonomy and overall progress through collective federalism. Quantitatively, Goa excels across economic and development indicators.
Since gaining statehood in 1987, Goa’s healthcare system has seen major improvements. Maternal and infant mortality rates have dropped, institutional deliveries are nearly universal, and child immunisation is high. Life expectancy has risen, with better access to healthcare for all. The state offers free renal, cancer, and orthopedic treatments for the needy. With over 120 hospitals and 4,600 beds, Goa has one of the best doctor-patient and bed-patient ratios in India.
Goa’s electricity department has made notable strides in improving power distribution, with enhanced reliability and efficiency. The state has been upgraded from a B+ to an A-rating in the Ministry of Power’s annual rankings. This progress is further reflected in Goa’s low Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, which remain well below the national average. Continued investment in modern infrastructure and smart grid technology is driving these improvements.
There has been a major infrastructure renaissance in Goa in the last decade. Manohar International Airport boosts Goa’s connectivity, tourism, and economic growth. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has invested over ₹4,200 crore to boost Goa’s connectivity through road widening, the Mormugao flyover-cum-cable-stayed bridge, and major projects like Atal Setu and the New Zuari Bridge. With the growth of e-commerce and fintech, businesses and banks have embraced digital platforms, and government services are now widely accessible online.
Goa has solidified its status as a tourism hub, with tourist arrivals (domestic and foreign) increasing from 1.28 million in 1997 to 10.41 million in 2024, despite a decline during COVID-19, driven by growing foreign arrivals via charter flights from Europe, Russia, and other destinations. Goa Tourism reported a 10.5% rise in Q1 2025 arrivals with 2.85 million visitors, reversing concerns over high costs and monopolies. This growth follows earlier reports of declining foreign tourists due to pricing and accessibility issues.
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Goa received US$165.57 million in Foreign Direct Investment between October 2019 and June 2024. In FY24, the state's merchandise exports totaled US$2.39 billion, with US$0.95 billion recorded up to August in FY25. Goa’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) stood at US$12.87 billion in 2023–24. At current prices, the GSDP was US$11.15 billion in 2022–23, marking a CAGR of 9.17% from 2016–17 to 2024–25. Goa has stood third in the Fiscal Health Index 2025 as announced by the NITI Aayog.
Need for actions
Goa’s beautiful beaches and culture attract over one crore tourists annually, but its fragmented taxi system threatens the tourism economy. Despite India’s digital progress, only 13.5% of Goa’s 20,000 taxis use app-based services. Goa must digitise and streamline its taxi operations to stay competitive and offer smooth transport.
Mhadei diversion exemplifies how politicians at both the central and state levels prioritise short-term gains over critical issues. With only two MPs, Goa holds little political weight in the Centre, which leans more toward Karnataka’s 28 MPs. This imbalance means Goa’s concerns, like the Mhadei dispute, receive little attention. Unfortunately, decision-makers prioritise short-term gains over the future, jeopardising Goa’s resources and the well-being of coming generations.
Since 1987, education has reached nearly every home in Goa, contributing to an impressive literacy rate of over 88%, one of the highest in India. However, the number of IAS, IPS, and IRS officers produced remains low, raising concerns about education quality and availability of training. The July 2023–June 2024 Labour Force Survey shows Goa’s unemployment rate at 8.7%, over twice the national average, with youth unemployment at 19.1%, especially among women. This gap between education and employment demands urgent reform.
The Goa government has made Konkani proficiency mandatory for government jobs to promote the official language. Despite being Goa’s official language for 38 years, Konkani’s use in administration and courts remains limited. Though the Supreme Court bans job discrimination by origin, promoting Konkani is key to protecting local livelihoods and culture. Recognising Roman-script Konkani in administration and by the Sahitya Akademi is key to preserving Goan literature, cultural pride, and linguistic heritage.
Goa may score high on development indices but at a steep environmental cost. Hills are bulldozed, forests cleared, and even World Heritage sites face encroachment. Many Goan villages, including Taleigão—the former granary of Tiswadi—and the once-lush Reis Magos Hill, are now scarred by construction. Unplanned development like mega projects is polluting springs/ground water and fueling rampant garbage and concrete sprawl—threatening Goa’s natural heritage and identity. The smart city project envisioned to modernise the city now risks undermining Panaji’s charm, heritage, and livability. Special status for Goa is urgently needed to curb the rampant sale and exploitation of its land and resources.
Goa at 39, the double-engine government must urgently draft a sustainable, people-centered roadmap that balances development with the state’s carrying capacity and the welfare of its citizens. Policies should prioritise the needs of Goans, including the diaspora while protecting land and natural resources for future generations. This approach must ensure that progress honours Goa’s unique identity, cultural heritage, and environment, fostering long-term prosperity and resilience.
(The author is a scientist by profession and a newspaper columnist by passion)
