Parliament Approves Goa Bill Reserving Four Assembly Seats for Scheduled Tribes
Goa Scheduled Tribes to get reserved representation in Assembly after Parliament passes landmark bill.
Parliament on Monday passed ‘The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2025,’ providing reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The Rajya Sabha approved the bill through a voice vote without discussion, following the Lok Sabha’s earlier passage on August 5.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal explained that Goa has 40 Assembly seats, with one reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), whose population is around 25,494. However, no seats were reserved for STs because the 2001 census recorded only 566 STs in the state. The bill was introduced to ensure STs are not deprived of political representation.
BJP Rajya Sabha member from Goa, Sadanand Mhalu Shet Tanavade, praised the legislation as a vital step to address historical inequalities faced by STs, calling for unanimous support to strengthen democracy and inclusiveness.
YSRCP’s Subhas Chandra Bose Pilli described the bill as transformative for political representation in Goa and emphasized the importance of accurate census data, urging the government to complete the delayed national census.
Biju Janata Dal MP Niranjan Bishi highlighted that the bill will reserve four Assembly seats for STs as per Article 332 of the Constitution, offering greater democratic participation for the tribal community.
The bill marks a significant milestone in ensuring equality and justice for Goa’s Scheduled Tribes by guaranteeing them a platform to voice their concerns and influence policy-making.
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