Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has clarified that reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Goa Legislative Assembly will be based on updated population data and not solely on the 2001 Census.

Under the recently notified Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Act, 2025, the Census Commissioner is required to ascertain or estimate the updated ST population of Goa. The figures will subsequently be notified in the Gazette of India and will replace previously published population figures based on the last Census.

The Act also provides that, after the updated ST population figures are notified, the Delimitation Commission will make the necessary amendments to the delimitation order to ensure proper representation of Scheduled Tribes in the state.

2001 CENSUS CLAUSE CREATES CONFUSION

Clause 1(e) of the Act defines the “last census” as the Census held in India in 2001. This has raised questions over whether the 2001 figures could determine ST reservation, particularly since Goa recorded an ST population of just 566 in that Census.

The figure is also being questioned in the context of Goa's three major tribal communities — Kunbi, Gawda and Velip — which were officially included in the state's Scheduled Tribes list only in 2003.

However, a top legal adviser to the Goa government has pointed out that the Act specifically provides for updated ST population data to be ascertained or estimated by the Census Commissioner and subsequently notified.

The notified figures will replace the figures published at the last Census and will be treated as final. The Act further provides that the figures cannot be challenged in court.

MULTIPLE STATUTORY STEPS INVOLVED

The process will require several stages before ST-reserved Assembly constituencies can be finalised.

First, the updated ST population has to be ascertained or estimated and officially notified. This will be followed by amendments to the existing Delimitation Order for providing representation to Scheduled Tribes.

The delimitation and reservation process itself will require publication of proposals, inviting objections and suggestions, considering the responses and making necessary revisions before the final notification.

FIVE-MONTH WINDOW BEFORE ASSEMBLY POLLS

The present term of the Goa Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on March 14, 2027. With the election process required to be set in motion within the prescribed period before the expiry of the Assembly's term, authorities have only a limited window to complete the entire exercise.

This raises a crucial question: Can the updated ST population assessment, notification, delimitation and reservation of seats all be completed before the 2027 Assembly elections?

MUNICIPAL DELIMITATION OFFERS A TIMELINE INDICATOR

The ongoing municipal delimitation process has added to concerns over the time required for such exercises.

The terms of 11 municipalities in Goa ended in March and April, but elections have not yet been held as the delimitation and reservation of municipal wards are still pending.

During hearings before the Bombay High Court, the Goa State Election Commission submitted that it would not be possible to conduct the municipal elections before February 2027, citing the pending delimitation and reservation process.

The Goa State Commission for Backward Classes has also sought 60 days to submit updated population data relating to Backward Classes, which is required for determining ward reservations.

Authorities are therefore expected to take around seven to eight months to complete the delimitation and reservation process for just 11 municipalities.

KEY QUESTION BEFORE 2027

The Assembly exercise will cover the entire state and involve updated ST population data, delimitation of constituencies and reservation of seats, along with opportunities for objections and revisions.

With only around five months remaining before the Assembly election process is expected to begin, the key question remains whether the mammoth statutory exercise can be completed in time for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.