A gazette notification regarding THE READJUSTMENT OF REPRESENTATION OF SCHEDULED TRIBES IN ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES OF THE STATE OF GOA ACT, 2025 published on 13th August 2025 has thrown up a shocker.

The notification that forms the basis for the ST political reservation in Goa mentions that the reservation will be based on the 2001 census and not the 2011 census as was widely believed till now. 

A fascimile of the relevant portion attached with this story clearly shows section 2, sub section 'e' mentioning " _(e) 'last census' means the census held in India in 2001_ "

This may change many equations on ground. However, this raises many questions.

"How can a reservation be done on the basis of 25 year old data? That too when the data of the census conducted in 2011 is available with us", says senior lawyer and political analyst Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho.

"We also need to check if Gawada, Kunabi, Velip tribes were even accorded Scheduled Tribes status in 2001", he points out. 

He is right. The recognized tribal communities were only granted ST status in 2003. They were not officially enlisted as Scheduled Tribes during the 2001 Census enumeration.

The official 2001 census data did not break down or rank individual assembly constituencies by Scheduled Tribe numbers, as the total statewide count was negligible and evenly dispersed (281 in North Goa and 285 in South Goa) without any localized segment data. 

Constituency-wise tribal population data and reservations only became statistically and legally relevant after subsequent tribal status inclusions and the 2011 Census.

"This is strange. Is it a typo error? A mistake in the gazette notification? Possible but we cannot conclude that, unless there is a correction issued", another lawyer states.

"2001 lapses when 2011 comes into force", he emphasizes.

However the clause 3. (1) reads, "as soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the population as at the last census of the Scheduled Tribes in the State shall be ascertained or estimated by the Census Commissioner." 

The question remains, 2001 or 2011? Typing error or not?

When Prudent contacted ST leader and former Tribal Affairs Minister Govind Gaude, he clearly states that as per his understanding it is not 2001.

"As per my understanding it is 2011 and not 2001. I have always focused on the details of this act and I can confidently say that it cannot be 2001", Gaude insists.