In a landmark development for Goa’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) com munities, the Central Gov ernment has brought into force the Readjustment of Representation of Sched uled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, paving the way for reservation of As sembly seats for Scheduled Tribes in the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly. The Act came into effect on August 6 following a Cen tral Government notification issued under Section 1(2) of the legislation. The law was passed by Parliament and received the President’s as sent after being introduced by Union Law Minister Ar jun Ram Meghwal. The legislation provides for the readjustment of Assembly constituencies based on the Scheduled Tribe population, enabling political representation for Goa’s ST communities, in cluding the Kunbi, Gawda and Velip tribes. With the Act now in force, the Census Commissioner will determine the updated ST population, after which the Election Commission will identify and notify the Assembly constituencies to be reserved ahead of a fu ture electoral cycle.
The notification marks a major milestone in the tribal community’s long-pending demand for political reservation, which has gained momentum in recent months through protests, ultimatums and demonstrations seeking implementation before the 2027 Assembly elections. The notification issued by the Ministry stated that August 6, 2026, had been appointed as the date on which the provisions of the Act would come into force. Welcoming the notifica tion, former Minister and United Tribals Alliance As sociation (UTAA) President Prakash Velip described it as the beginning of political res ervation for Goa’s ST com munities. He said the Elec tion Commission of India and the Delimitation Com mission should now initiate the process, expressing hope that it would be completed within the next two months. Velip said the notification fulfilled one of the UTAA’s 12 demands and noted that it had come 23 years after four communities were granted Scheduled Tribe status in 2003.
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He also paid tribute to Dilip Velip and Mangesh Gaonkar, who lost their lives during the 2011 Balli agi tation, and expressed hope that Assembly seats would be reserved in proportion to the State’s Scheduled Tribe population ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Welcoming the devel opment, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described it as the fulfilment of a long-standing commitment. In a post on X, the Chief Minister also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Min ister Amit Shah for facilitat ing the implementation of the legislation. The implementation of the Act is expected to significant ly enhance the political rep resentation of Goa’s Sched uled Tribe communities and reshape the State’s electoral landscape ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
