Panaji : Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday presented the Goa Budget for the financial year 2026–27 in the Legis lative Assembly, projecting steady economic growth while prioritising infra structure development, welfare programmes and digital governance. Presenting the budget, Sawant — who also holds the finance portfolio — cautioned that continuing geopolitical instability in West Asia could have po tential ripple effects on Goa’s economy. Despite the uncertainty, he said the state’s finances remain strong and growth pros pects positive. The total expenditure for 2026–27 is estimated at Rs 30,195 crore, a 7.21 per cent increase over the 2025–26 estimates. Total receipts are projected at Rs 29,181 crore, with the gov ernment anticipating a revenue surplus of Rs 1,666 crore. Sawant said Goa’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is expected to reach Rs 1.31 lakh crore in 2026–27, while the per capita GSDP is projected at Rs 8.18 lakh, the high est in the country. According to accounts finalised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for 2024–25, the state recorded a revenue surplus of Rs 2,867 crore, the highest in its history. The chief minister said the state has also received Rs 2,078 crore in special assistance from the Union govern ment for infrastructure development, the highest such support received so far. A major focus of the budget is infrastructure and public utilities. The Public Works Department has been allocated Rs 1,897 crore, including Rs 1,300 crore for infrastructure projects. Sawant also announced that projects worth Rs 100 crore will be undertaken in each constituency based on priorities identified by local MLAs.
Newly constructed roads will include utility ducts to ac commodate services such as water, electricity and telecom lines, while old water pipelines will be replaced in phases alongside the automation of water supply systems. Major infrastructure projects are planned in Bicholim, Canacona and Cuncolim. A dedicated pipeline from Verna to Bam bolim has also been proposed to address water shortages in Tiswadi. The allocation for the Drinking Water Department has increased by 25 per cent to Rs 1,009 crore, while Rs 19.5 crore has been earmarked for the Goa Sewerage Corpo ration. The Electricity Department has been allocated Rs 5,100 crore, including Rs 467 crore for the Centre-support ed smart meter scheme. Tourism, a key driver of the state’s economy, has been allocated Rs 385 crore, a 10 per cent increase over the pre vious year. Sawant said tourist arrivals in 2025 reached 1.08 crore, including 1.02 crore domestic and 5.18 lakh international visitors. In the transport sector, Rs 366 crore has been allocated, with the government planning to purchase 137 new buses for the Kadamba Transport Corporation. Bus terminals in Margao, Mapusa and Vasco will be redeveloped at an esti mated cost of Rs 745 crore.
The Health Department has been allocated Rs 2,217 crore, with Rs 1,063 crore earmarked for the Goa Medical College. The government plans to extend online OPD ap pointment facilities across all departments and provide free vaccination to 50,000 adults. Sawant also announced that MBBS seats at Goa Medical College will be increased from 200 to 250. For the education sector, Rs 3,439 crore has been allocat ed. The government will begin work on an Integrated Col lege Complex at Dona Paula, which will house institutions including colleges of Pharmacy, Home Science, Fine Arts, Music, Architecture and Education. A Drone Remote Pilot Training Centre will be set up at Cacora ITI, while new Industrial Training Institutes will be commissioned in Sanguem and Dharbandora to strengthen skill development. Several welfare initiatives were highlighted in the budget. The government has allocated Rs 479 crore for the Dayanand Social Security Scheme, with a proposed increase in assistance to beneficiaries after assessing in flation patterns. An allocation of Rs 330 crore has been made for the Griha Aadhar Scheme, also with a proposed increase in support, while Rs 40 crore has been earmarked for the Ladli Laxmi Scheme. The government also announced reservation in govern ment jobs and educational institutions for orphans. To pro mote menstrual hygiene, Rs 1 crore has been allocated to provide biodegradable sanitary pads for schoolgirls across the state. Sawant said the government will strengthen digital gov ernance through several initiatives. A Goa Mobile App will be launched at a cost of Rs 1 crore to provide consolidated e-governance services, while the Goa Online Portal will be revamped to improve ease of doing business.
Under the GBBN 2.0 project, connectivity will be expand ed across 414 points of presence and 1,605 government lo cations. The Information Technology Department has been allocated Rs 189 crore, including Rs 10 crore for startup support schemes under the Goa Startup Policy 2025. The government also plans to develop co-working spaces for digital nomads and remote workers in coastal areas. To address long-standing property ownership issues faced by apartment residents, the government will intro duce the “Mhajo Flat” scheme, which will allow residents of apartments without formal ownership deeds to obtain legal rights through deemed conveyance. While no new taxes have been proposed, the govern ment plans to increase the excise licence fee to Rs 20 lakh to regulate the opening of new liquor outlets. The fee for transferring a licence to a non-Goan will be Rs 25 lakh, and the fee for setting up new casinos will be increased by 200 per cent. The budget also emphasises environmental protection and climate resilience. A Rs 1,650 crore environmental management programme will be implemented under a 70:30 Centre-State funding model, while a Rs 10 crore Cli mate Change Fund has been proposed. Urban flood management works worth Rs 170 crore in Mapusa and coastal erosion mitigation projects worth Rs 200 crore in Morjim, Baga, Calangute, Betalbatim and Be naulim will be undertaken with central assistance. Among other initiatives, the government has announced the construction of Goa Yatri Bhavan in Navi Mumbai and accommodation facilities for Goan devotees in Pandharpur and Velankanni. Land has also been purchased in Ayodhya for the construction of Ram Niwas, with work expected to begin during the current financial year.
The state is also in the final stages of preparing the Goa Happiness Index to assess citizens’ well-being across pa rameters such as health, culture, education and communi ty life. The Goa Spatial Data Infrastructure Project will also be implemented in collaboration with the Centre. Sawant also said the government plans to develop Mopa City with a focus on wellness, trade and sports, along with a plug-and-play concert centre. An allocation of Rs 5 crore has been made to host international artist concerts. He also announced the Vision Kushawati initiative, which will present a development blueprint for the pro posed third district and guide administrative and policy planning in the coming years. Overall, the budget emphasises infrastructure expan sion, welfare support, technology-driven governance and economic diversification while maintaining fiscal stability with a projected revenue surplus.
