Goa
India's 25th state (statehood 30 May 1987), capital Panaji, governed by a 40-seat Legislative Assembly and permanent host of the International Film Festival of India since 2004; it leads India in per-capita income and received 104 lakh tourist arrivals in 2024.
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- Location
- Goa, India
- Country
- India
- Statehood
- 30 May 1987 — India's 25th state, under the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987
- Capital
- Panaji
- Legislature
- Unicameral Goa Legislative Assembly, 40 seats
- Official language
- Konkani
- IFFI venue
- Permanent home of the International Film Festival of India since 2004; jointly organized by the National Film Development Corporation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Entertainment Society of Goa
- Per-capita income
- Highest in India — ₹3,57,611 per-capita NSDP in FY 2023-24 (constant prices), per National Statistical Office data tabled in the Lok Sabha
- Tourist arrivals (2024)
- 104.09 lakh (99.41 lakh domestic, ~4.68 lakh foreign) — up 21% over 2023
- High Court
- Common High Court of Bombay for Maharashtra and Goa
Goa is a state on India’s western Konkan coast, capital Panaji, which became India’s 25th state on 30 May 1987 after more than 450 years of Portuguese rule (TFIpost). Its 40-member Legislative Assembly governs the state (The Indian Express), and since 2004 Goa has been the permanent home of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), organized jointly by the National Film Development Corporation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Entertainment Society of Goa (Press Information Bureau).
Goa combines India’s highest per-capita income with one of its densest tourist economies: ₹3,57,611 per-capita NSDP in FY 2023-24 (Times Now) against 104.09 lakh tourist arrivals in 2024 — roughly the highest visitor-to-resident ratio of any Indian state (The Navhind Times).
From Portuguese colony to India’s 25th state
The Portuguese arrived in Goa in the early 16th century and refused to leave after Indian independence in 1947; the Indian Army’s Operation Vijay ended more than 450 years of colonial rule on 19 December 1961, and Goa was organized as a union territory with Daman and Diu (TFIpost). On 16 January 1967, Goans voted in a referendum on merging with Maharashtra or remaining a union territory and chose to stay separate (TFIpost). Full statehood came on 30 May 1987 under the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, which fixed that date as the appointed day and inserted Goa as entry 25 in the Constitution’s First Schedule — India’s 25th state — with Daman and Diu remaining a union territory (CourtKutchehry). Panaji became the capital and Konkani the official language (TFIpost). The state is governed by a unicameral Legislative Assembly of 40 seats (The Indian Express) and falls under the common High Court of Bombay (CourtKutchehry).
The permanent home of the International Film Festival of India
Since 2004, Goa has been the permanent home of the International Film Festival of India, jointly organized by the National Film Development Corporation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Entertainment Society of Goa (Press Information Bureau). Founded in 1952, IFFI is South Asia’s only FIAPF-accredited competitive film festival (Press Information Bureau). Its 56th edition ran from 20 to 28 November 2025 with 240+ films from 81 countries, drawing a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries (Press Information Bureau). That scale is the payoff of the 2004 decision: two decades of a fixed Goa address have converted a domestic film festival into a global submission funnel, which in turn gives the festival — and its host state — a standing platform for government-backed cultural launches.
IFFI Goa has become exactly that kind of launch platform. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting chose the festival to launch Season 2 of the animated series Krish, Trish and Baltiboy — subtitled “Bharat Hain Hum,” a co-production dramatizing lesser-known freedom fighters — with actor Nagarjuna at the launch; the season released in 12 Indian and 7 international languages and on Prasar Bharati’s Waves OTT platform (The Tribune).
Economy and tourism in numbers
Goa recorded India’s highest per-capita income: ₹3,57,611 per-capita NSDP in FY 2023-24 at constant prices, per National Statistical Office data placed before the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary — ahead of Sikkim (₹2,92,339) and Delhi (₹2,71,490) (Times Now). The state Economic Survey 2025-26 estimated 2024-25 GSDP at ₹1,12,525.47 crore, up 15.01% over the previous year, with per-capita income at current prices estimated at ₹7,09,045 — growth led by manufacturing, power and aviation, with Manohar International Airport’s operations lifting transport’s share of GSDP (The Navhind Times). Tourism is the public face of that economy: Goa received 104.09 lakh visitors in 2024 — 99.41 lakh domestic and about 4.68 lakh foreign — a 21% rise over 86.28 lakh in 2023 (The Navhind Times; The Indian Express). Registered hotels nearly tripled from roughly 3,000 in 2022 to about 9,000 in 2024, and the Survey describes Goa as the first Indian state to adopt a regenerative-tourism model (The Navhind Times).
| GSDP sector (2024-25, constant prices) | Share of GSDP | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining) | 5.74% | 4.79% |
| Secondary (manufacturing, construction, electricity) | 50.76% | 12.60% |
| Tertiary (services, trade, transport, finance) | 43.50% | 11.05% |
Source: Goa Economic Survey 2025-26, via The Navhind Times.
| Tourist arrivals | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 81.75 lakh | 99.41 lakh |
| Foreign | 4.53 lakh | ~4.68 lakh |
| Total | 86.28 lakh | 104.09 lakh |
Source: Goa Economic Survey 2024-25, via The Navhind Times; corroborated by The Indian Express.
Frequently asked questions
When did Goa become a state of India? On 30 May 1987, under the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, which fixed that date as the appointed day and inserted Goa as entry 25 in the Constitution’s First Schedule — making it India’s 25th state, with Daman and Diu remaining a union territory. Goa Statehood Day is observed every 30 May.
Why is the International Film Festival of India held in Goa? Goa was declared IFFI’s permanent venue in 2004. The festival is jointly organized there by the National Film Development Corporation, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Entertainment Society of Goa. The 56th edition in November 2025 screened 240+ films from 81 countries.
What is Goa’s per-capita income? Goa has India’s highest: ₹3,57,611 per-capita NSDP in FY 2023-24 at constant prices, per National Statistical Office data tabled in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary — ahead of Sikkim and Delhi. The state Economic Survey estimated per-capita income at current prices at ₹7,09,045 in 2024-25.
What is the connection between Goa and “Krish, Trish and Baltiboy”? The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched Season 2 of the animated series — subtitled “Bharat Hain Hum” — at IFFI Goa, with actor Nagarjuna at the launch. The season dramatizes lesser-known freedom fighters and released in 12 Indian and 7 international languages, including on Prasar Bharati’s Waves platform.
What this profile does not claim
- It does not state a current population figure; no full-read government source verifying one was located in this pass, and the 2011 census figure in tertiary indexes is stale.
- It does not assert the exact calendar date of the “Krish, Trish and Baltiboy” Season 2 launch; The Tribune’s article as fetched confirmed the launch happened at IFFI but its publication date was not visible, so no date is given here.
- It does not treat the “only referendum in independent India” framing of the 1967 poll as independently established fact; that characterization comes from a single tier3 source.
- It does not assert the state’s “first and only regenerative tourism” claim as a verified national comparison; it is the Goa Economic Survey’s own assertion as reported by The Navhind Times.
- It is not a travel guide: it covers Goa’s documented institutional and economic record — statehood, legislature, IFFI hosting, income and tourism figures — rather than beaches, hotels, or itineraries.
Timeline
- 1961
- The Indian Army's Operation Vijay ends more than 450 years of Portuguese rule on 19 December 1961; Goa becomes part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.
- 1967
- On 16 January 1967 a referendum is held on merging Goa with Maharashtra or remaining a union territory; Goans vote to stay separate.
- 1987
- The Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987 (assent 23 May 1987) fixes 30 May 1987 as the appointed day: Goa becomes a state — entry 25 in the Constitution's First Schedule — while Daman and Diu remain a union territory.
- 2004
- The International Film Festival of India finds its permanent home in Goa, jointly organized by the NFDC, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Entertainment Society of Goa.
- 2024
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launches Season 2 of the animated series "Krish, Trish and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum" at IFFI Goa, with actor Nagarjuna at the launch event.
- 2025
- The 56th IFFI runs 20–28 November 2025 in Goa with 240+ films from 81 countries and a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries.
What we could not verify
These claims came up in research and could not be confirmed. They are recorded here rather than published as fact or quietly dropped. If you hold a source that settles one, please tell us.
- The task brief suggested "12 May 1987" as the statehood date; no full-read source confirmed that date. The verified legal date is 30 May 1987 — the appointed day under the Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987, and the date Goa Statehood Day is observed. The profile uses 30 May 1987.
- This profile does not state a current population figure; no full-read government source verifying one was located in this pass (tertiary lead indexes cite the 2011 census figure, which is stale).
- The exact launch date of "Krish, Trish and Baltiboy" Season 2 at IFFI was not visible on the Tribune page as fetched; the profile asserts only that the launch happened at IFFI, not the date.
- The characterization of the 1967 opinion poll as "the only referendum ever held in independent India" comes from a single tier3 source (TFIpost) and should be treated as its framing, not an independently established fact.
- The Goa Economic Survey's claim that Goa is "the first and only state in India to launch regenerative tourism" is reported by The Navhind Times but is the Survey's own assertion, not a verified national comparison.
Sources
9 sources (5 tier 1, 3 tier 2, 1 tier 3), each opened and read against the claim it supports. Every source is independent of the subject; no first-party material is cited. See the source policy.
Built from nine sources read in full: four tier1 (PIB, The Tribune, The Indian Express ×2, Times Now), three tier2 (CourtKutchehry's reproduction of the Reorganisation Act, The Navhind Times ×2) and one tier3 (TFIpost, used only for historical narrative, with legally load-bearing dates resting on the Act text). Wikipedia was used only as a lead index for the SERP survey; the existing "Krish, Trish and Baltiboy" profile was treated as a lead, and every fact taken from it was re-verified from The Tribune before appearing here.
- Supports: IFFI's permanent home in Goa since 2004; joint organizers (NFDC, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Entertainment Society of Goa); festival founded 1952; South Asia's only FIAPF-accredited competitive festival; 56th edition 20–28 November 2025; 240+ films from 81 countries; record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries. Open original source
- Second season of animated series Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum launched at IFFI Tier 1Supports: The Season 2 "Bharat Hain Hum" launch at IFFI by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; actor Nagarjuna's participation; 12 Indian and 7 international languages; availability on Prasar Bharati's Waves OTT platform; featured freedom fighters including Wazir Ram Singh Pathania (Himachal Pradesh) and Birsa Munda (Jharkhand). Open original source
- Supports: Corroboration of 2024 tourism totals (1.04 crore, 99.41 lakh domestic, 4.67 lakh foreign; 86.28 lakh in 2023); 28.51 lakh visitors in Q1 2025 (+10.5% year-on-year); the "Goa beyond beaches" diversification push. Open original source
- Supports: Finance Ministry/NSO data tabled in the Lok Sabha by MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary: Goa's per-capita NSDP highest in India at ₹3,57,611 in FY 2023-24 (constant prices), ahead of Sikkim (₹2,92,339) and Delhi (₹2,71,490). Open original source
- Goa Assembly elections 2022: BJP set for third term with support, Congress blames split in votes Tier 1Supports: The Goa Legislative Assembly has 40 seats (BJP won 20 of the total 40 in the 2022 election); Pramod Sawant returned as Chief Minister. Open original source
- Supports: Assent on 23 May 1987; 30 May 1987 as the appointed day for statehood; Goa inserted as entry "25. Goa" in the First Schedule (25th state); Daman and Diu retained as a union territory; common High Court of Bombay for Maharashtra and Goa. Open original source
- Supports: Goa Economic Survey 2024-25 tourism figures: 99.41 lakh domestic and ~4.68 lakh foreign tourists in 2024 (104.09 lakh total), 81.75 lakh domestic and 4.53 lakh foreign in 2023 (86.28 lakh); 21% growth; registered hotels rising from ~3,000 (2022) to ~9,000 (2024); the "first and only state in India to launch regenerative tourism" claim. Open original source
- Supports: Goa Economic Survey 2025-26: GSDP ₹1,12,525.47 crore in 2024-25 (+15.01%) vs ₹97,838.56 crore in 2023-24 (+14.95%); per-capita income ₹7,09,045 (current prices, 2024-25 estimate); sector shares — primary 5.74%, secondary 50.76%, tertiary 43.50% (constant prices); Manohar International Airport's effect on transport share. Open original source
- Supports: Portuguese rule and 19 December 1961 liberation (Operation Vijay); the 16 January 1967 referendum; 30 May 1987 statehood as India's 25th state; Panaji as capital; Konkani as official language. Narrative corroborated by the Reorganisation Act text for the dates that carry legal weight. Open original source
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