Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Aug 12: The Ministry of Law and Justice has directed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to initiate the process of ascertaining the Scheduled Tribes (ST) population in Goa, paving the way for reservation of Assembly seats for STs in the state.

The direction follows the coming into force of the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, which provides for the readjustment of Assembly constituencies to facilitate reservation for ST candidates.

In a letter dated August 10, 2026, the Legislative Department informed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner that the Act came into force 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 subsequently required 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 stated that the exercise is essential to commence the process of readjusting ST representation 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 communication has also been marked to the Election Commission of India.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the Ministry has directed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to fast-track 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 the constituencies to be reserved for ST candidates.

The government is optimistic that four constituencies — Sanguem, Quepem, Priol and Nuvem — will be reserved for STs.

Following this, the Delimitation Commission will amend the Delimitation Order to provide appropriate representation to STs in the state, in accordance with Articles 170 and 332 of the Constitution and the Delimitation Act.

The Election Commission will notify the reserved constituencies only after the delimitation process is completed.