GTA LAUNCHES 'ENGINEER OF THE YEAR' AWARDS TO HONOUR TECH TALENT
MANIPAL HOSPITAL GOA PERFORMS REGION'S FIRST ROTA-PRO ANGIOPLASTY
VIBRANT GOA FOUNDATION HOSTS ZIMBABWE DELEGATION FOR KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
REPUTATION AND TRUST, NOT GIMMICKS, DEFINE ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS
GOA CM SAWANT URGES INDUSTRIES TO PRIORITISE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
VIBRANT GOA DELEGATION ENGAGES WITH AFRICAN NATIONS AT INDO-AFRICA CONCLAVE
22 SPECIAL STORY GOAN BUT NOT LOCAL
The Identity Crisis of the Born Outsider
SUSTAINABLE RIDES, SUSTAINABLE SMILES
On a bright day at the Assembly Complex in Porvorim, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant set in motion a symbolic and practical initiative: handing over e-bikes to journalists under the “Subsidy to Purchase E-Bikes for Journalists” scheme for 2024–25. Alongside the two-wheelers came laptops, computers, and cameras under...
WHERE THE SEA MEETS SERVICE TAJ FORT AGUADA RESORT & SPA'S NEW WING OF HIGH LUXURY
BEYOND THE BEACH CLEAN-UP WHAT WILL REALLY SAVE GOA'S COASTLINE?
SUSTAINABLE GOA 2030 – CAN THIS PARADISE BECOME INDIA'S FIRST CARBON-NEUTRAL STATE?
52 BUSINESS BUZZ
THE GLOBAL EDGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT YOUR SMART FINANCIAL TRIAD
GSL AND GCCI JOIN HANDS TO BOOST GOAN MSMES IN MARITIME
COLUMNS
SCULPT & BURN: THE ULTIMATE LOWER BODY FAT-LOSS WORKOUT
56 FINANCE
54 FITNESS GST COUNCIL CHANGES AND INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE
58 REAL ESTATE BUYING A HOME IN GOA? 3 THINGS TO KNOW!
Goa's E-Bike Scheme for Journalists
The Identity Crisis of the Born Outsider
What Happens When the Youth Don't Return?
Goa's E-Bike Scheme for Journalists
Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa's New Wing of High Luxury
What Will Really Save Goa's Coastline?
Conrad D’Costa’s Quiet Masterclass in Ambition
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GOA’S TURNING POINT
Here we are, September, another turning page in Goa’s story and in ours. This month’s issue asks an unusually practical question: how do large policies and small choices translate into everyday ease, dignity, and possibility? Our coverstoryonGST2.0stripsaway thenoiseandbringsithometothe Goan table and till. With four confusing slabs now replaced by a simpler two-rate structure, 5% for essentials, 18% standard, plus a higher rate for de-merit goods, the promise is clarity where there was clutter, predictability where therewaspaperwork,andafairer runway for families and small businessesalike.
Of course, reform lives or dies in implementation. Goa’s servicedriven economy stands to gain from cheaper inputs in hospitality and events, faster refunds for low-risk claims, and a less adversarial compliance regime; but the real test is whether benefits reach the shack owner before season, the Mapusa kirana, and the family counting billsatmonth-end.Ourreportlays out winners, worries, and the long gamewithrefreshingspecificity.
That same “policy-to-people” bridge runs through our In Focus piece on the state’s e-bike subsidy for journalists. In a profession defined by deadlines and detours, the jump in support, 50% of the cost capped at 75,000, has already nudged many from intent to ignition. You’ll hear directly from the newsroom floor about what lighter costs, fewer fuel stops, and quieter commutes mean in a state safeguarding both press freedom andtheplanet.
about belonging without binaries, and about the civic culture we wanttobuildtogether.
Our coastline coverage looks beyond photo-ops. Beach cleanups make for good weekends, but resilient shores demand better planning, tougher enforcement, smarter funding, and all of us paying attention long after the hashtagsfade.
In Hospitality Buzz, the reimagined wing at Taj Fort Aguada reminds us that luxury can be intimate, not loud, sunlit rooms, butler craft, and heritage that breathes rather than shouts. It’s service as curation, not choreography.
And because a magazine should be a well-set table, we’ve added hearty sides: Business Buzz decodes a smarter triad for your savings, Finance unknots the inverted duty structure, and Real Estate sets out three things firsttime buyers in Goa must know. In Goa Buzz, you’ll find the state’s talent and institutions busy, engineering laurels, medical firsts, and cross-continental handshakemomentsthatmatter.
Ten years into Incredible Goa, I’m grateful for the circle that keeps us honest, advertisers, readers, well-wishers, and yes, critics whose sharp notes have shaped the magazine you hold. The work remains the same: ask better questions, listen longer, and celebrate what’s best about this place without looking away from whatneedsfixing.
South Goa : FIIRE Business Incubator, Fatorda - Goa. 403602 Call: +91 89990 85172 / 96651 83739 Email: info@gpdm.in
We also sit with a delicate, decades-old conversation: “Goan but not local.” Identity in Goa has layers of language, lineage, labour, and love, and our special story treats them with the care they deserve. It’s a piece
Finally, our annual Incredible Goa Awards return this October, an evening to recognise excellence and renew our shared promise to keep Goa worthy of the word “incredible.” Until then, travel light,readdeeply,andtelluswhat youthink.Happyreading.
Rajesh Ghadge Editor
Rajesh’s long journey began with an early realization of his writing skills and nearly a superhuman power of vivid imagination; which together led to the birth of a successful media portal. His never-ending spree of learning has made him efficient in varied fields like coding, designing and also marketing. He fuels himself with continuous reading being a history fanatic and bouts of music and movies. Acting as a one-man army he prizes work over almost everything.
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GOA BUZZ
GOA TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES
'ENGINEER OF THE YEAR' AWARDS TO HONOUR TECH TALENT
Mangirish Salelkar, President of GTA, said, “This award is a tribute to engineers who form the backbone of the technology industry. We hope to grow this intoastrongerannual platform that not only celebrates talent but encourages mentorship and contribution to Goa's ITecosystem.”
become a flagship initiative –bridging the gap between classroom excellence and realworld innovation, while creating visibility for Goa's rising tech stars.
Founded in 2017, the Goa Technology Association is the only representative body for IT companies in Goa. It works closely with the government, educational institutions, and startups to promote innovation, generate employment, and position Goa as a future-ready technologydestination.
One promising technovator from each college who has demonstrated outstanding innovation, leadership, or technicalachievement.
Speaking at the ceremony,
In a landmark moment for Goa's technology and education sectors, the Goa Technology Association (GTA) successfully hosted the first edition of its 'Engineer of the Year' Award on Tuesday, 16th September 2025. The initiative drew enthusiastic participation from engineering colleges across the state and set a powerful precedent for recognising local technical talent. The awards honoured two categoriesfromeachcollege: The department-wise toppers, celebrating academic excellence.
Held in the presence of students, academic heads, industry experts, and tech entrepreneurs, the event provided a unique convergence of academia and industry. It reinforced the importance of nurturing homegrown talent and strengthening Goa's reputation asanemergingtechhub.
With this inaugural edition, GTA has launched what promises to
MANIPAL HOSPITAL GOA PERFORMS REGION'S FIRST ROTA-PRO ANGIOPLASTY ON 84-YEAR-OLD PATIENT
In a milestone for interventional cardiology in Goa and the wider Konkan region, Manipal Hospital Goa has successfully performed the region's first ROTA-PRO angioplasty on an 84-year-old patient with multiple comorbidities. The breakthrough procedure marks a new era in advanced heart care for patients previouslydeemedinoperable.
AHigh-RiskChallenge
The patient, already suffering from chronic kidney disease and ischaemic cardiomyopathy, was diagnosed with a 90–95% blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery — one of the most critical blood vessels of the heart. Severe calcification made conventional angioplasty impossible, while open-heart
surgery posed life-threatening risks.
After repeated hospitalisations due to heart failure, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Nikhil Sontake, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, decidedtoemploytheROTA-PRO device—a precision tool that clears heavily calcified arteries using a technique known as rotablation. Guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), thesurgerywasperformedon17th July 2025 with meticulous accuracy.
ARemarkableOutcome
The procedure was completed smoothly, and the patient was discharged in stable condition within two days. “The successful use of the ROTA-PRO device allowed us to treat a severely calcified artery that would have otherwise been inoperable. It's a proud moment for our team and for cardiac care in Goa,” said Dr. Sontake.
ABeaconofHopeforGoa
The success of this intervention brings world-class cardiac innovation to the Konkan coast, empowering doctors to safely treat elderly patients and those with complex heart conditions. For Goa's growing healthcare sector, it is yet another step in cementing the state's reputation as a regional hub for advanced medicalcare.
Forpatientsandfamiliesalike,the message is clear: cutting-edge cardiac solutions are now availablerighthereinGoa.
VIBRANT GOA FOUNDATION HOSTS ZIMBABWE DELEGATION FOR KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
The Vibrant Goa Foundation, under its Global Knowledge Outreach initiative, hosted an Educational Roundtable on September 8, 2025, welcoming a high-level delegation from Zimbabwe for a meaningful exchange of ideas and opportunities.
The Zimbabwean delegation was led by Mr. Moses Mhike, Permanent Secretary of the MinistryofPrimaryandSecondary Education, accompanied by Mrs.
Olicah Kaira, Chief Director for Primary, Secondary, and NonFormal Education, and Mrs. Ashell Ruswa, CEO of Errymaple Group of Schools. Their visit was facilitated by Mr. Yogesh Kerkar, Managing Director of Qurious Minds.
On the Goan side, Vibrant Goa trustees Mr. Rajkumar Kamat, Mr. Arman Bankley, Mr. Manoj Patil, Mr. Vinay Verma, Mr. Rasik Naik, Mr. Dinesh Dhulapkar, Mr. Ajay Gramopadhya, Mr. Gautam
Kharangate, and Mr. Milind Anvekar participated alongside representatives from leading institutions including Goa University, Dhempe College, MES College, Don Bosco College of Engineering, Goa Institute of Management, the Government Polytechnic, and the Directorate ofHigherEducation.
Discussions focused on collaborative opportunities in EdTech, STEM, GIS, Robotics, Drones, ICT solutions, and Learning Management Systems.
The Zimbabwean delegation lauded Goa's strides in technology adoption at the school level and praised the Vibrant Goa Foundation for building platforms that connect Goawithglobalpartners.
Mr. Mhike expressed optimism aboutfuturecollaboration,noting that partnerships are already taking shape, with Qurious Minds workingalongsideaZimbabwean company. He highlighted the
synergies between Zimbabwe and Goa in shaping education andinnovationecosystems.
Vibrant Goa Trustee Mr. Rajkumar Kamat concluded the session by inviting the delegation to participate in the upcoming Global Tech Summit and Global BusinessExpo&Summit2026. This engagement not only deepened ties between Goa and Zimbabwe but also reaffirmed Vibrant Goa's mission to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration in educationandbeyond.
REPUTATION AND TRUST, NOT GIMMICKS, DEFINE ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS: CA SANTOSH KENKRE
Reputation and trust outweigh short-term gimmicks in determining entrepreneurial success, said chartered accountant Santosh Kenkre, while addressing a lecture series at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias as partofitscentenarycelebrations. Drawing insights from his professional journey and his interactions with leaders such as
PrimeMinisterNarendraModiand Infosys Chairman NR Narayan Murthy, Kenkre underscored the enduring importance of quality, discipline, and marketing in business.
“In the short term, gimmicks may work. In the long run, it is quality that sells. Reputation is what keeps you in the game. Look at Tata. If Tata does something, we
buy it blindly,” Kenkre remarked, stressing that trust and reputation form the backbone of entrepreneuriallongevity.
A former chairman of the Goa State Co-operative Bank and exhead of the Economic Development Corporation of Goa, Kenkre emphasized the critical role of marketing, particularly in Goa. “We are often apologetic about advertising or marketing. But only if your productssellwillyoumakemoney. Sustaining a business in a competitive market requires effectivemarketing,”henoted.
Recounting his meeting with Narendra Modi in 2013, then Gujarat Chief Minister, Kenkre highlighted five lessons he learned in just five minutes — open-mindedness, time management, relationshipbuilding, public relations, and delegation. He also cited Murthy's philosophy that growth stems from consistent improvements in
quality rather than lofty ambitions.
Kenkre further stressed the importance of systems and processes in business, drawing parallels with household efficiency. “The best SOPs are in our homes. The multitasking and systems run by women are unmatched. Businesses can learn disciplinefromthem,”hesaid. The lecture offered a powerful reminder: true entrepreneurial success is built on quality, trust, discipline, and effective communication—notshortcuts. Would you like me to also make a shorter news brief version (150 words)forquickmediapickup?
GOA CM SAWANT URGES INDUSTRIES TO PRIORITISE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has called upon industries to make occupational safety and health a top priority, stressing that it is not just a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Occupational Safety and Health exposition for professionals in the industrialsector.
Highlighting its critical role,
Sawant noted that workplace safety directly contributes to enhanced productivity and the overall growth of the nation.
“Creating a culture of safety is essential for sustainable growth. Let us collaborate to build a safer and stronger India, with an eye on our vision for a developed nation by2047,”hesaid.
The Chief Minister pointed out that while awareness of
occupational health and safety has increased, a significant gap persists in the informal sector, where more than 80 percent of India's workforce is employed. Bridging this gap, he emphasized, mustremainacollectivepriority.
Citing industry data, Sawant shared that India's market for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was valued at USD 2.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.7 billion by 2033, growing at about six percent annually.Firesafetytechnologies, ergonomics, and digital safety innovations, he added, will play an integral role in building safer workplaces.
The Chief Minister also praised the initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including new labour laws and digital platforms to monitor compliance and support workers. In Goa, the state government has introduced multiple training programmes for factory workers, underscoring its commitmenttosafety.
Industry leaders echoed his views.
Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director of Informa Markets in India, stressed the need to strengthen compliance in the informal sector, while Ram Dahiphale, Joint Director of the Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health, Maharashtra, underlined the importance of regulatory frameworks such as the Factories Act,1948.
VIBRANT GOA DELEGATION ENGAGES WITH AFRICAN NATIONS AT INDO-AFRICA CONCLAVE IN PUNE
After the success stories of Goan MSMEs in Zimbabwe following the 2024 Amazing Goa edition, and soon after hosting a Zimbabwean delegation in Goa, an 11-member delegation from Vibrant Goa participated in the two-day Indo-Africa Business Conclave organized by the Global India Business Forum (GIBF) in Pune. The conclave
witnessed participation from over 25 African nations, with more than 200 government trade commissionersandcompanies.
KeyHighlights:
Vibrant Goa delegates engaged with African trade officials and businesses, exploring avenues for collaborationandgrowth.
The platform enabled
showcasing of Goan industry potential and building strong internationalconnections.
Discussions focused on trade relations, investment opportunities, and fostering bilateralbusinesspartnerships.
Vibrant Goa's Presence: Led by President Arman Bankley, the delegation included representatives from Ep Biocomposites Ltd, Armines Industries, Suraj Staar Stabilisers Pvt Ltd, LumeInfra, Handy Goan, Sri Kripa Empire Exim, Naadaum Udyam Vandyam Solutions, among others. Their active participation underscored Goa's commitment to strengthening globaltradeties.
Looking Ahead:
The conclave highlighted the vast potential for Indo-Africa partnerships. President Arman Bankley extended an invitation to African delegates to attend the
3rd Edition of Vibrant Goa in October 2026, where participation from most of the 25 Africancountriesisanticipated. This engagement marks a significant step in positioning Goa as a hub for international trade and cooperation, while opening doors for new opportunities for Goan businessesinAfrica.
A New Tax Dawn, a Goan Sunrise
On 22 September 2025, Goa woke up to more than just another Monday. In Fontainhas, the church bells rang as shopkeepers quietly reprinted price tags. In Margao, families wondered if their groceries would finally cost less. Shack owners in Baga asked if refrigerators and stoves would become affordable before the season began.
Gone were the confusing four slabs of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. In their place: 5% for essentials and merit goods 18% as the standard rate 40% for de-merit or sin goods (tobacco, pan masala, select luxury items)
For India, GST2.0 promises simplicity, transparency, and relief. For Goa, where tourism, hospitality, small traders, and fisheries drive the economy, it carries special weight. Beyond percentages on a chart, it is about whether a shack owner in Baga can buy a fridge, whether a Margao family’s grocery bill falls, and whether state revenue can sustain ambitious growth.
To put it in very simple words, the question now wasn’t what is GST2.0? But rather, what does it mean for every Goan family, business, and tourist?
By Gauri Ghadge
GST 2.0 EXPLAINED: WHAT HAS CHANGEDANDWHY
When GST debuted in 2017, it was hailed as “India’s biggest tax reform since Independence.” The promise of One Nation, One Tax was meant to replace a patchwork of levies with a unified system. Instead, multiple slabs, exemptions, and compliance hurdles createdcomplexity.
Traders struggled to classify goods, consumers faced unpredictable prices, and small businesses groaned under frequent notices and disputes. Economists warned that complexity distorted consumption and undermined compliance. By 2024, the GST Council began shaping what became GST 2.0: aleaner,cleaner,future-proofmodel.
TheNewStructure
Approved by the 56th GST Council (3 Sep 2025) and notified by CBIC on 17 Sep 2025; most changes took effect 22 Sep 2025. GST nowworksonthreeslabs:
For citizens, reform only matters when bills change. GST 2.0 was branded a common man’s relief, and for many households, it delivers.
EssentialsandAppliances
Ÿ FMCG products like soaps, toothpaste, andbreaddroppedfrom12%to5%.
Ÿ Small appliances and electronics moved from 28% to 18%, making purchases like a mixerorfridgecheaper.
Ÿ A Margao family could save 500–600 on groceries and a few hundred more on applianceseachmonth.
UtilitiesandHealthcare
Coal-related rate rationalisation under GST 2.0 reduces the embedded tax on power generation inputs; multiple analyses expect only modest tariff effects, and actual impact depends on state tariff orders and passthrough decisions. In Goa, any change hinges onthestateregulator’srevisions
Certain notified life-saving medicines shifted to 5%, and specified categories of personal health and life insurance policies are now exempt (though group and corporate covers remain taxable), providing a significant relief in states like Goa with rising medical costs.
Caveats
Ÿ Tobacco and luxury items face the steep 40%slab.
Ÿ Alcohol and fuels remain outside GST, understatetaxes.
Ÿ CBIC warned against viral claims of “automaticrefunds”;thosearefalse.
Net effect: Middle-class Goan families could freeup 1,000–2,000monthly,moneythatflows backintorestaurants,retail,andleisure.
BUSINESS IMPACT: RELIEF, CLARITY, AND COMPLIANCE EASE
For India’s 1.5 crore registered taxpayers, including over 46,000 in Goa, GST 2.0 isn’t cosmetic. It redefines pricing, compliance, andcompetitiveness.
LowerInputCosts
Ÿ Capital equipment like refrigeration, soundsystems,andACsdroppedfrom28% to 18%. Hotels and restaurants save on refurbishments.
Ÿ Farm equipment at 5% supports fisheries andagriculture-linkedbusinesses.
Ÿ MSMEs in printing, cashews, furniture, and small manufacturing gain from cheaperrawmaterials.
ComplianceReforms
Ÿ A new invoice management system curbs automatednotices.
Ÿ Monetary thresholds prevent minor mismatchesescalatingintodisputes.
Ÿ Communications generated via the common GST portal that bear a verifiable RFNdon’talsoneedaDIN
For small traders, from Anjuna’s souvenir shops to Margao’s pharmacies, this means
ITC remains available on pre-22 September purchases; reversals apply to newly exempt supplies.
Refunds are now risk-based and faster for low-riskclaims.
From FY 2024-25 onward, Form GSTR-9 is exempt for taxpayers with aggregate turnover <2crore,criticalforGoa’smicro-enterprises. GSTAT:FasterDisputeResolution
The long-awaited Goods and Services Tax AppellateTribunal(GSTAT)isnowactive.
Ÿ Single-member bencheseasebacklog.
Ÿ New forms (APL-02A, APL-04A) standardise appeals, reducing procedural disputes
Ÿ Extended timelines give breathing space forolderdisputes.
For Goa’s hotels, event companies, and exporters, this promises faster justice and consistency.
GOA’S PERSPECTIVE: WHO WINS,WHOWAITS
For Goa, GST 2.0 is a live test case of how a tourism-heavy, SME-dominated economy adapts. Goa’s total GST collections in FY 2024-25 were provisionally reported at 7,146 crore,withSGSTcontributing~ 4,515crore. HospitalityandTourism
Ÿ Hotels and restaurants benefit from cheaperequipment(18%vs28%).
Ÿ Event organisers save on lighting and décor, a boost for Goa’s thriving wedding andfestivalscene.
Ÿ Dining services remain at 18%, but simplerslabsreducedisputes.
RetailandSmallTraders
Ÿ Predictability replaces confusion; no more12%vs18%dilemmas.
Ÿ Compliance eased for micro businesses. As one Panjim shopkeeper put it: “Earlier we spent more time with accountants than with customers. Now at leastweknowtheslabstraightaway.” AgricultureandFisheries
Ÿ Farm equipment at 5% lowers costs for farmers.
Ÿ Fishing gear and repair inputs cheaper, benefiting 30,000+ directly employed in fisheries.
Ÿ But diesel for trawlers remains outside GST,keepingfuelcostshigh.
StateRevenue
Short-term concern: lower slabs may reduce inflows.
Long-term hope: higher consumption and compliance offset the dip. Goa’s reliance on hospitality makes this a delicate balancing act.
Attheendoftheday,ForGoans,GST2.0isnot an abstract reform. It is in the fish curry rice on
their plates, the insurance premium slips in their drawers, the electricity bill at month’s end, and the hotel renovation bills that keep thetourismeconomyalive.
VOICES FROM GOA’S LEADERS &PROFFESSIONALS
PramodSawant,ChiefMinister:
“WithGST2.0,thehappinessindexofGoansis set to rise. NextGen GST reforms, along with continuous efforts to improve Ease of Doing Business in Goa, are creating a more vibrant ecosystemforentrepreneurshipandeconomic growth.”
MauvinGodinho,IndustriesMinister:
“This landmark reform not only guarantees greater savings for households but also provides traders with a simpler and more transparent tax system, strengthening economic activity and delivering lasting benefitstocitizensacrossGoaandIndia.”
INDIA’S BIGGER PICTURE: GROWTH, INFLATION, AND FISCALBALANCE
BoosttoConsumption
Ÿ FMCG salesprojectedtorise5–7%.
Ÿ Durables expected to see 10–12% festive demandgrowth.
Ÿ Rural households benefit from cheaper bicyclesandessentials.
Ÿ Analysts say GST 2.0 could modestly lift GDP growth via higher demand and investmentconfidence.
Centre–StateEquation
Ÿ States worry about revenue dips, the Centre assures that compliance gains and demerit-rate revenues (including the ongoing cess on tobacco) will help cushion statefinances.
Ÿ Past experience shows consumption reboundscanrestorecollectionsquickly.
InvestorConfidence
Credit agencies and trade bodies lauded GST 2.0. FICCI and CII called it pro-growth and pro-consumer. For investors, fewer slabs mean predictabilityandlowercompliancerisk.
ChallengesandRisksAhead
No reform is without hurdles. GST 2.0 faces testsinexecution:
“The decrease in price of consumer goods, insurance, medicines etc will ease household budgets and increase savings. At the same time, the purchasing capacity of the middle
class will boost the market and power the nation’sdrivetowardsViksitBharat-2047.”
Politically, with elections ahead, perception will matter. If consumers don’t feel relief, the reformcouldbecomeaflashpoint. WhatItMeansforYou Reforms only matter when they touch daily lives.Here’showGST2.0playsoutinGoa:
Ÿ For the Family in Panjim: The grocery bill shrinks as soap and bread fall into the 5% slab. Appliances like a fridge are 8–10% cheaper, and insurance premiums ease. Savings of 1,500–2,000 a month go back intofood,education,andleisure.
Ÿ For the Shack Owner in Baga: Refrigerators, stoves, and music systems now cost less at 18% GST. Annual returns are waived for small turnover. With fewer notices and faster refunds, time shifts from paperworktoservingcustomers.
Ÿ For the Retailer in Mapusa: No more guessing if goods are 12% or 18%. Clear slabs mean predictability, and reduced notices free up cashflow. The difference? Lessstress,morefocusonbusiness.
Ÿ For the Farmer in Ponda: Irrigation tools and fishing gear at 5% reduce cultivation costs. But diesel for tractors and trawlers remains outside GST, keeping one big burdenintact.
Ÿ For the Tourist in Goa: Dining out is simpler, a flat 18% with no classification disputes. Hotels benefit from cheaper inputs, improving service quality. Transparent billing aligns Goa with internationalnorms.
Gaurav Kenkre, CA & Head of the Taxation VerticalatLaghuUdyogBharatiGoa:
“GST 2.0 reforms are a step in rate rationalisationandoverallreductioninratesof various goods and services. Rates have decreased on food items, medicines and medical equipment, life and health insurance, farm equipment, small cars, cement, hotel
rates and other products making them more affordable to common man. This move will definitely give a boost to the economy and augurs well for the future. Now sellers have to ensure they reduce the prices of goods and pass on the benefits of reduced GST rates so thattheeffortachievesitsintendedgoal.”
For years, GST was seen as a burden. Now, it is beingreframedasatoolofempowerment.
Actual savings depend on pass-through by manufacturers/retailers and state tariff orders; the Centre has signalled antiprofiteering scrutiny to encourage passthrough.
CONCLUSION: FROM COMPLEXITYTOCLARITY
In 2017, GST was hailed as “India’s second economic freedom,” but multiple slabs and disputes dulled its shine. GST 2.0 is the reset. With two clear slabs and a de-merit rate, India finallyalignsclosertoglobalbestpractice.
For India, it’s a growth lever: cheaper essentials, stronger MSMEs, and investor confidence. For Goa, it’s sharper: hospitality reinvestment,fisheriesrelief,andretailclarity. But success depends on implementation, transparency,andexpansion.Willstatesadopt a trust-based approach? Will businesses pass benefitson?Willexcludeditemseventuallyjoin GST to complete the “One Nation, One Tax” dream?
Ifyes,GST2.0willnotjustbeataxreset, itwill be a social contract reset: a partnership of citizens,businesses,andstate.
In Goa, that could mean a shack owner planningfortheseason,aMapusashopkeeper sleepingeasier,afishermanpayingalittleless, andaMargaofamilyenjoyinglighterbills.
Taxation, at its heart, is about trust, fairness, and growth. GST 2.0 has opened the door. Whether India and Goa walk boldly through it willdefinenotjustoureconomy,butourfuture.
GOAN BUT NOT LOCAL
The Identity Crisis of the Born Outsider
By Gauri Ghadge
BORNUNDERCOCONUTTREES,YETCALLED “OUTSIDER”
Goa is often imagined as a place that belongs to everyone, a land where cultures meet without conflict, where Konkani is sung as easily as English is spoken, where heritage is worn lightly but proudly. Yet beneath this postcard harmony is a paradox: belonging here is not guaranteed, even for those born underitsskies.Youmayeatpoiatdawn,savour sannaswithsorpotelatfamilyfeasts,cheerfor Salgaocar or Dempo, and speak Konkani with ease, and still hear the cutting question: “Are youGoan?”
It is not simply a remark. It is a verdict, one that separates the “true local” from the “settled outsider.” This invisible border seeps into schools and colleges, into who marries whom, into who rises in politics or secures a government post, and even into daily interactions in neighbourhood committees. For thousands, it means living as insiders by practice but being cast as outsiders in perception, participating fully in Goa's life, yet denieditsfullembrace.
At the heart of this paradox lies Goenkarponn, that elusive sense of being Goan. Is it a gift of bloodlines and ancestry? Or is it an evolving culture that should include all those who live, breathe,andcarryGoaforward?
THE UNWRITTEN LINE BETWEEN NATIVITY ANDBELONGING
Goa's identity has always been described as elastic, simultaneously earthy and oceanic, rooted in tradition yet open to influence. But elasticity does not mean everyone is included. Belonging is still carefully policed, not only by official laws but also through surnames, accents, parish registers, school alumni lists, andwhisperedfamilyhistories.
Konkani in Devanagari was declared the officiallanguageofGoain1987.UndertheAct and subsequent notifications, Marathi may also be used in the Goa district, and English continues for official purposes. The law cemented cultural pride but also sharpened divisions, leaving Roman-script users, feeling sidelined.. In everyday life, this plays out as tests of authenticity: are you speaking the “right” Konkani, in the “correct” script, with the “acceptable” surname? Those born to migrant parents, even when fluent in Konkani, are reminded that language alone cannot win themasenseofbelonging.
PAPER
WALLS: THE WEIGHT OF THE NATIVITYCERTIFICATE
For second-generation residents, the nativity certificate is more than a document; it is a wall. Without it, access to government scholarships, jobs, and official recognition becomes tenuous. The North Goa district portal lists the required paperwork, but in practice the process is far from simple. Families without ancestral records, especially
those who migrated decades ago, find themselvesrunningfromofficetooffice.
In 2018, recognising the unfairness, the state instructed collectors to relax rules in genuine cases where origin documents could not be produced. But discretion lies in the hands of officers, and experiences vary widely. For many born and educated entirely in Goa, the irony is sharp: their everyday lives prove their belonging, yet their futures are decided by documentstheycan'talwaysproduce.
The effect is corrosive. A certificate becomes not just proof of origin but proof of worth. Without it, even the most deeply rooted children of Goa are left standing at the margins.
COUNTINGTHE“BORNOUTSIDERS”
How many people are caught in this limbo? Census 2011 shows about 18.5% of Goa's population are inter-state migrants, among the highest in the country. Newer research places the figure closer to a quarter, nearly doublethenationalaverage.Migrationisnota side story in Goa; it is central to its economy andgrowth.
Yet, despite this dependence, their children, born here, schooled here, speaking Konkani, are reminded that they are not “true locals.”
The “born outsider” is not an anomaly; they are the inevitable outcome of Goa's reliance on labour and talent from outside, combined with itsreluctancetobroadenthedefinitionofwho
belongs.
EXCLUSION IN SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
Exclusion does not always announce itself loudly;itdripsintodailylife.Inschoolcorridors, a child quickly learns that surnames can decide friendships and acceptance. Scholarships that require nativity papers draw silent lines between classmates. In housing colonies, migrant families are welcomed to Diwali or Christmas celebrations but are quietly denied a vote in the residents' association.
A study across 305 households in Goa's slum settlements found that migrant families, even after decades of living in the state, continued to face social exclusion. These exclusions are rarely dramatic, they are lived in silences: a neighbour's hesitation to call you Goenkar, a committee's refusal to let you lead despite years of participation. For the “born outsider,” thesesmallrejectionsaccumulateintoalifeof partialacceptance.
LANGUAGE, SCRIPT, AND THE POLITICS OF IDENTITY
Language is a living badge of identity in Goa, butitisalsoagate.The1987OfficialLanguage Act enshrined Konkani in Devanagari, but the reality of daily life is messier: Roman script dominates parish notices and tiatr flyers, English prevails in offices, and local dialects echoinmarkets.
Instead of celebrating this plurality, language often becomes a test of purity. Children who speak Konkani fluently but in the “wrong” accent are laughed at. Migrant-born Goans who use Roman script are told their language doesn't count. In these moments, language, which should connect, becomes a filter throughwhichbelongingisdenied.
THEDIASPORAPARADOX
Nowhere is the contradiction sharper than in Goa's treatment of its diaspora. Overseas Goans are feted as ambassadors of culture.In April 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs issuedamemoallowingthosewithPortuguese nationality to use a Revocation Order in place of a Surrender Certificate for Overseas Citizenship of India applications; subsequent clarificationsinJuneaffirmedthechange. ButforthoseborninGoato“outsider”parents, the experience is harsher. They face obstacles to prove nativity in the land where they were born. The paradox is painful: Goa extends easier pathways to those returning from LondonorLisbonthantothoseraisedinPonda, Porvorim,orMargao.
WORK, QUOTAS, AND THE INVISIBLE CEILING
The outsider tag also shows up in careers. Governmentjobsstillfavournativitycertificate holders. Entrepreneurs from migrant families
often find themselves with thinner networks, fewer political connections, and longer waits for credit. Data reveals that while only 2.7% of migration into Goa is for business, the state relies heavily on migrant workers for construction,hospitality,andservices. This creates a contradiction: Goa thrives on the contributions of migrant labour and enterprise, yet their children hit a quiet ceiling when ancestry trumps ability. The message is clear, you may build Goa's future, but you may notleadit.
THE PRIVATE COST OF “ALMOST BELONGING”
Beyond careers and opportunities, the deepest wound is personal. Adolescents born here but labelled “non-Goan” internalise the idea that they must prove themselves every day, and still may never be accepted. It shrinks ambition: don't contest leadership roles, don't apply for fellowships, don't draw too much attention. Families try to compensate, volunteering more, celebrating harder, and offering more service, in hopes of gaining acceptance.
Sometimes it works. More often, it doesn't. The result is quiet resignation: children who stop speaking Konkani in public to avoid mockery, parents who avoid community meetings where their surnames will be scrutinised. The cost of “almostbelonging”isnotjustexclusion;itisthe slowerosionofself-worth.
TOWARDSFAIRNESSANDDIGNITY
Fairness is not about erasing Goan rights. Goa's small size and fragile cultural distinctiveness justify protections for land, heritage, and language. But fairness also demands that those born here, who participate fully in its life, are not excluded by technicalities.
Nativity certification needs transparency, clear timelines, and broader acceptance of school records, utility bills, and community participation as proof of belonging. Documentation camps in underserved wards could help families regularise records. These measures would not weaken Goan identity; theywouldstrengthenitbymakingitmorejust.
LESSONSFROMTHEWIDERINDIANSTORY
Goa's challenge is part of a larger national dilemma: how to safeguard local culture without alienating migrants. UNESCO and migration studies emphasise the importance of inclusion through services, fair documentation, and recognition of contribution. For Goa, that means seeing community participation, in tiatr, in village feasts, in local associations, as proof of identityasmuchasancestry.
LIVEDBRIDGESOFBELONGING
Despite barriers, belonging is forged every day. A Ganesh mandal in Ponda trusts a
newcomer family with key logistics. A football clubmakescaptainaboywhoseparentscame from Belagavi but whose heart beats for Fatorda. Roman-script poets find cheerleaders among Devanagari readers in Panaji. These moments reveal a truth often ignored:culturealreadyknowshowtoexpand. Itistheinstitutionsthatarelagging.
REWRITINGTHENARRATIVE
Teachers, editors, and community leaders are powerful custodians of belonging. A school that celebrates a child's tiatr performance alongside exam marks, a newspaper that profilesaKonkanirapperwithJharkhandroots, a temple or parish board that treats volunteering as a right of membership, these actions quietly redraw the boundaries of identity. Goa can honour the struggles of 1987 while refusing to let them fossilise into new exclusions.
CONCLUSION
Goa's genius has always been its ability to absorb without losing itself. It thrived through centuries of colonial rule, survived waves of migration, and built an identity out of contrasts. To deny belonging to those born here, who speak its language and carry its rhythms,istohollowoutthatverystrength. Thequestionnowissimplebuturgent:willGoa protect identity by narrowing it into brittle bloodlines, or by broadening it into a resilient, lived culture? A fortress identity may feel safe, but will grow smaller and lonelier. A lighthouse identity will shine farther, guiding home both the diaspora abroad and the children born herewholongtobelong.
When nativity no longer outweighs belonging, when Goenkarponn is recognised as a lived commitment rather than an inherited entitlement, the paradox of being “Goan but not local” will dissolve. And the words we Goans will finally mean what they always should have, a community defined not by exclusion,butbythestrengthofsharedlife.
SUSTAINABLE RIDES, SUSTAINABLESMILES
Goa’s E-Bike Scheme for Journalists
By Gauri Ghadge
ANEWCHAPTERINMOBILITY
On a bright day at the Assembly Complex in Porvorim,ChiefMinisterDrPramodSawantset in motion a symbolic and practical initiative: handing over e-bikes to journalists under the “Subsidy to Purchase E-Bikes for Journalists” scheme for 2024–25. Alongside the twowheelers came laptops, computers, and
camerasunderthe“AssistanceforPurchaseof Laptop/CameraforJournalists,2021”scheme. Themomentwasnotjustceremonial.Itmarked a serious step in making sustainable transport accessible to one of society’s most essential yetoftenoverlookedcommunities,thepress. The event was graced by the Director of InformationandPublicity,ShriDipakBandekar,
and Information Officers Shri Allwyn Pereira and Shri Kiran Munankar, underscoring the institutional commitment to support journalists intangibleways.
WHYE-BIKES,ANDWHYNOW?
Across India, electric vehicles have moved from novelty to necessity. Their costeffectiveness and eco-friendliness, defined by low carbon emissions and minimal servicing needs, are reshaping the way people move. Goa, a state already sensitive to issues of sustainability given its fragile environment, is steadilyembracingtheEVrevolution.
Journalists, whose work involves constant traveltocoverbeats,stories,andassignments, often rely on personal vehicles. Rising fuel pricesandenvironmentalconcernshavemade e-bikes an obvious solution. The government’s scheme to subsidise their purchase therefore strikes a double note: reducing the financial strain on reporters while simultaneously aligningwithbroadergreenmobilitygoals.
SCHEME DETAILS: FROM PAPER TO PRACTICE
The Department of Information and Publicity launched the Subsidy to Purchase E-Bike for Journalistsschemein2024.Initsveryfirstyear, enthusiasmwasevident:28journalistsapplied and were approved, a promising start for a newinitiative.
Learningfromthisearlyphase,thegovernment
revised the scheme to make it even more attractive. The subsidy was increased from 50% of the cost of the e-bike, capped at 50,000, to the same percentage, capped at 75,000. This significant jump directly addressedaffordability,makinghigher-quality and longer-range e-bikes accessible to more journalists.
In 2025 alone, seven applications have alreadybeenapproved,withmanymoreunder review—a sign of steady momentum. The Department expects numbers to grow as awareness spreads and more reporters considershiftingtoe-mobility.
VOICESFROMTHEFIELD
Information Officer Shri Kiran Munankar emphasised that the scheme was designed with journalists’ unique needs in mind. He explained that e-bikes would make travel to assignments more convenient, urging applicants to study the scheme’s terms carefully and submit proper documentation. His message was clear: the government is
eager to support, but applicants must also engageresponsiblywiththeprocess.
The Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ), the largest body representing the fraternity, has welcomed the scheme warmly. Its President, Shri Rajtilak Naik, described it as “excellent,” pointing out that the charging infrastructure in cities makes e-bikes a practical daily solution. At the same time, he suggested broadening the scheme to include electric four-wheelers, acknowledgingthatmanyreporterstravellong distances and need vehicles suited to allweatherconditions.
INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS ALSO SHARED THEIREXPERIENCES.
JasonSoares,ChiefSub-Editoratalocaldaily, explained that his decision to apply stemmed from the desire to cut travel expenses: “Owning an e-bike will significantly reduce my costs.There’snegligibleservicingneeded,and fuel savings are substantial.” His words reflect theday-to-dayrelieftheschemeoffers.
Misha Britto, Joint News Editor at The Times of
India, described her journey more emotionally: “I wanted to buy an e-scooter for years, but didn’t want another loan. The subsidy came at the right time. When I saw 75,000 deposited into my bank account, I was beyond thrilled. It helped me fulfil a dream while lowering my carbon footprint.” She praised the Directorate for a smooth, supportive process, proof that policy can work well when execution is efficient.
ELIGIBILITYANDSAFEGUARDS
The scheme is inclusive yet carefully defined. It isopentoaccreditedjournalistsrecognisedby the Department, working journalists as per the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955, and fulltime journalists with at least eight years of professional experience. Applicants must be below 58 years of age, and crucially, those who have already availed subsidies under othergovernmentEVschemesarenoteligible, ensuringfairdistributionofbenefits.
These safeguards prevent duplication while ensuring that the scheme truly reaches those who need it. By targeting working journalists and setting clear guidelines, the government reinforces the professional integrity of the initiative.
BEYOND MOBILITY: STRENGTHENING THE FOURTHESTATE
At its heart, this is not merely a transport scheme, it is a recognition of journalism’s democratic role. Reporters are the eyes and ears of the public, often rushing to remote corners or urban centres to capture stories. Providing them with affordable, eco-friendly mobility strengthens their ability to perform without the constant pressure of mounting expenses.
By easing financial burdens, the scheme indirectly empowers journalists to focus more on their craft. It acknowledges their contribution to civic life and offers support thatisbothpracticalandsymbolic.
SUSTAINABLE SMILES: THE LARGER PICTURE
The tagline “Sustainable rides, sustainable smiles” captures the scheme’s dual promise: environmental responsibility and personal relief. For the state, it pushes Goa closer to its sustainability goals by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. For individuals, it delivers tangible savingsandindependence.
Moreover, the scheme sets an example of how policy can bridge sustainability and welfare. Instead of treating green mobility as a distant nationalagenda,itembedsitineverydaylives, starting with a community that directly contributes to democracy and public awareness.
THEROADAHEAD
As with all good beginnings, there are areas
for expansion. Calls to include electric fourwheelers highlight the scheme’s potential to grow beyond two-wheelers, making it more inclusive of varied professional needs. Expanding the scheme’s reach across districts and ensuring robust charging infrastructure willalsobecrucial.
But the foundation is strong. The combination of enthusiasm from journalists, support from government officers, and leadership from media unions points to a program that can sustainitself.
CONCLUSION: A RIDE TOWARD TOMORROW
The e-bike scheme for journalists is more than a subsidy; it is a statement. It says that the statevaluesthepressnotonlyforitswatchdog rolebutalsoascitizenswhodeservesupportin livingandworkingsustainably.
For journalists, it is a chance to travel lighter, ontheroad,ontheirwallets,andontheplanet. For Goa, it is another step toward harmonising developmentwithsustainability.
The smiles on the faces of Jason, Misha, and others are not just about new rides. They are about dignity, recognition, and hope. As more journaliststaketothestreetsonquiet,batterypowered scooters, the message will be heard clearly: sustainable rides bring sustainable smiles, and together, they carry Goa toward a greener,fairerfuture.
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( ) WITH INPUTS FROM Sarita Naik FROM DIP
THEGREATGOANEXODUS
What Happens When the Youth Don’t Return?
By Gauri Ghadge
Atidethatnolongerturns
There is a rhythm to Goa: slowtide mornings, the thwack of carrom in balcaos, church bells dissolving into birdsong. Yet the tempo of everyday life is shifting. More school-toppers and skilled graduates leave after college, and far fewer come back to plant careers in Panaji, Margao or Mapusa. They return for Ganesh and Christmas, for weddings and anniversaries, enough to keep festivals alive, not enough to keep villagesvibrant.Thisisn’talament; it is a civic puzzle with economic, culturalandemotionalstakesthat willshapethenextdecade.
THE SCALE OF THE OUTFLOW, BYTHENUMBERS
Two facts frame the moment. Tourism is booming again: provisional data show Goa welcomedover10.4millionvisitors in 2024, including roughly 9.94 million domestic and 0.47 million international arrivals—a sharp rise on 2023. And connectivity has reset the map: Manohar International Airport (Mopa) handled about 4.64 million passengers in FY 2024–25 (around 15,000 a day), making “outside”feelcloserthanever.But prosperity in arrivals coexists with anxiety at home: Goa has posted elevated unemployment readings in 2023 compared to the national trend, a push factor for outward movement.
WHEN CLASSROOMS EMPTY, COMMUNITIESTHIN
Demography makes itself heard first in school corridors. Official
replies in the Assembly confirmed that since 2019,61governmentprimaryschoolshaveshut, including several with zero enrolment; many others face merger. A classroom that closes removes a reason for families to stay; a school that struggles to fill benches weakens neighbouring sports clubs, church or temple youth groups, tiatr troupes and folk-art lines of apprenticeship. The result is a subtle hollowing:quieterlanes,fewervolunteers,and ashrinkingpipelineoflocalleadership.
IDENTITYINTRANSIT,NOTATREST
Goa has never been parochial. Generations have worked the seas, ships and hotel corridors of the world. What is distinct today is permanence. Through Portugal-linked nationality routes, many young Goans now study in Lisbon, work in London and fly “home” on predictable calendars. A 2024 Ministry of External Affairs directive eased OCI processing for Goans who obtained Portuguese nationality, allowing a revocation order to replace the earlier surrendercertificate hurdle, lowering friction for transnational lives .The emotional geography of “home” is now split between the village and thevenue.
THEHOUSEHOLDCOSTOFDISTANCE
Remittances soothe bank balances but not the ache of absence. An ageing parent can mastervideocalls;theystillneedahandonthe banister, a ride to the clinic, a companion at Mass or aarti. As Goa’s age profile creeps upward, primary health centres, neighbourhood clubs and parish networks carry rising care loads. When fewer young adults remain to volunteer, the stress shows up in quiet ways: longer waiting times, frayed community events and elders who default to private providers they cannot comfortably afford.
WHATIFTHEYOUTHDON’TRETURN?
Three trajectories become likely. First, an ageing-heavy service state. Public spending tilts toward elder care and chronic disease management unless new tradable, year-round services grow at home. Second, a bifurcated labour market. Strong jobs cluster in government, larger hospitality houses and a handful of exporters, while frontline work is increasingly performed by migrant labour; local mobility stalls for those without degrees or networks. Third, culture as festivalised memory. Konkani or Marathi is lovingly taught to children abroad; in Quepem or Sattari, benchesinschoolmusicroomssitempty.
MAKERETURNRATIONAL:FIVELEVERS
1) Housing that welcomes beginnings. For many returnees, the cliff is not wages but rent and deposits. Convert idle public land near transit into mixed-income rentals; fast-track permissions for accessory dwelling units;
rewardbuilderswhodelivercompact,climatesensible homes rather than only second-home luxury. Predictable leases and modest tax credits for owners who keep units in the rental poolcanlowerentrycostsforyoungfamilies.
2) Ladders from campus to career. Sharpen startup incentives into paid apprenticeships with wage floors and 12-month mentoring. Publish cohort placement data by sector so a BBA in Ponda or a diploma in Porvorim sees step-by-step pathways. Pair incubation with export links in marine services, specialty foods, pharma support, media post-production and digital product studios. When progression is visible,stayingbecomescalculablysmart.
3) Care as a dignified industry. Train and certify home-care aides, rehabilitation assistants and community health workers. Seed social enterprises for tech-enabled home care, respite services and elder daycare that partner with parishes and panchayats.Thiscannotbeoffshored;itkeeps households resilient and reduces the guilt-tax that keeps emigrant children from considering areturn.
4) Creative and knowledge hubs beyond the beach. Guarantee stable, fast internet across talukas. Create affordable co-working and maker spaces with small studios for film, music and game design. Use predictable rules for rentals and noise so neighbourhoods remain liveable for residents and creators. Anchor residencies and seasonal festivals in Bicholim, Quepem and Canacona so cultural entrepreneurs don’t have to choose between ambitionandhome.
5) Turn the diaspora from memory to muscle. Offer “Return Fellowships” for 6–12 months where Goans abroad mentor local teams on heritage digitisation, biodiversity mapping, robotics clubs or food processing. Issue transparent, audited diaspora bonds for village infrastructure; show milestones, money flows and impact dashboards so the pride of givingismatchedbyproof.
TOURISM2.0:VALUEOVERVOLUME
Visitors will keep coming; the task is to ensure each visit leaves more behind. A year-round cultural calendar, culinary trails that pay producers fairly, blue-economy adventures within strict ecological thresholds, and design festivals that export Goan craft all translate bustle into careers. The numbers validate the momentum—10.4 million visitors in 2024 and sustained footfall in early 2025—yet the win only counts when a young designer, dive guide or dramaturg can pay rent and plan a future in Goa. Between January and June 2025 alone, arrivals crossed 5.45 million, underscoring a year-round curve, not a holiday spike.Harnessed, that curve can bankroll skills, studiosandscholarships.
THEMINDSETSHIFT
Out-migration is not failure; it is freedom. The policy goal is not to halt mobility but to make it reversible. That demands reliable public basics—schools that raise aspirations, streets that feel safe after dusk, clinics that work, and permits that don’t exhaust. It also demands visible stories of return: the coder who moved her remote team to Saligao; the chef who turned a grandmother’s recipes into a slowfood enterprise; the marine-tech engineer prototyping in Pernem for ports overseas. When such stories multiply, leaving becomes a loop,notaone-wayroad.
ACLOSINGNOTEONURGENCY
Signals are already flashing: empty benches in primary schools, rising air traffic that eases one-way exits, and job-market indicators that push the young outward. Goa still has time to convert exodus into circulation—talent flowing out and then back with capital, skills and confidence. But it will not happen by accident. It will happen because policy backed the first lease, because a company guaranteed the first apprenticeship, because a village club welcomedanewcoach.Ifwedesignforreturn withurgencyandcare,thenextgenerationwill see Goa not only as the place to come home to—butastheplacetobuildfrom.
BUILDINGHOMES,KEEPINGITGOAN
Conrad D’Costa’s Quiet Masterclass in Ambition
By Gauri Ghadge
From an engineering background to selling luxury real estate in North Goa, Conrad D'Costa has builtacareerondiscipline,clarity, and unmistakably Goan warmth. As founder of Conrad Homes, he pairs an engineer’s rigour with a host’s instinct for what “home” should feel like. His story is one of steady intent: know your values, do the work, and let the results speak.
EARLYLIFE&BEGINNINGS
BornandraisedinChicalim,South Goa, Conrad grew up in a household where ambition and balance were taught side by side. His father worked at Zuari Industries; his mother kept the family’s centre of gravity steady. He has two brothers, one a Chief Engineer in the merchant navy, the other, his twin, a doctor in the United States; proof that high standardswerethefamilynorm. Schooling at Regina Mundi High School and M.E.S. Higher Secondary led to a B.E. (Mechanical) from Goa Engineering College. Outside the classroom, he was everywhere, on stage, on hiking trails, at karate class,andmostmemorably,onthe athleticstrack,whereheearneda Government of India scholarship. Growing up in a diverse company colony exposed him early to people from across the country. “My parents insisted on both: academics and becoming wellrounded,” he says. “That balance isstillmycompass.”
JOURNEY&THELEAP
Eighteen years across Goa,
Mumbai, Delhi, and Dubai in power generation, oil & gas, and pharma gave Conrad the global view and professional discipline he would later bring to real estate. He rose to handle international business in 50+ countries, work he enjoyed and a rhythm he mastered.Butas40approached,thequestion sharpened:Whatnext,andonwhoseterms?
“It was now or never,” he recalls. Back in Goa and exploring property for his own investment, he saw a widening gap between the demand for quality homes and the depth of professional, end-to-end guidance many buyers needed. In August 2018, he resigned and launched Conrad Homes. The differentiators were clear: sales and marketing excellence, strong networks, and an engineering-led analytical approach. “That’s whatwouldsetusapart,”hesays.
BUILDINGCONRADHOMES
Entrepreneurship, he jokes, “makes you sales head, admin, social media manager, legal liaison—and sometimes the xerox guy until you scale.” A typical day swings from creating content and conducting site visits to meeting developers, walking clients through shortlists, and, when needed, sitting down with legal teams.
Conrad Homes specialises in luxury villas and premium apartments in North Goa, serving both second-home seekers and primary residents. The firm has contributed to 100+ prestigious projects and nurtured 1,000+ loyal clients; impressively, around 80% of business now comes from referrals. “We’re not just selling a structure,” he says. “We’re helping families discover the real Goa, neighbourhoods, rhythm, and a sense of belonging.”
Conrad’s earlier engineering career left its own trail of firsts: the first underwater wetwelding project for ONGC (Mumbai offshore); thefirstgas-generatorprojectforPerkinsUKin Ankleshwar; and expansion across dozens of countries for a Goa-based power company. In real estate, a highlight was brokering Tarun Tahiliani’s ‘Glass Villa’ in Nachinola. “Worldclassoutcomesarealwaysbuiltonworld-class processes,”hesays.
GOA:HOMEANDMUSE
For Conrad, the conclusion after travelling to 38 countries is simple: Goa is home. Professionally, the state’s transformation, faster infrastructure upgrades, a vibrant culinary and nightlife scene, and an influx of discerning buyers have created a rare inflection point. Culturally, its essence remains itsgreatestadvantage.
He is quick to clarify a stereotype: “People often misread susegad. It’s not laziness; it’s balance. Work hard, breathe easy, and make timeforthepeoplewhomatter.”Hisrole,ashe
sees it, is to be a bridge, matching aspirations with the right addresses and ambition with authenticity.
CHALLENGES&LESSONS
Leaving a fixed salary for a founder’s life is never neat. “In a job, your salary lands on time. As an entrepreneur, you earn every rupee,” he says. The early phase demanded visibility and velocity, “you shout from rooftops so people knowyouexist”,butpersistencecompactsinto momentum.
His operating principle is unglamorous and effective: patience + persistence. “Success and failure are both part of the process. Stay open to feedback, keep improving, and enjoy the journey.” Self-learning and steady iterationhavebeencornerstonesthroughout.
BEYONDTHEPROFESSION
Travel and food remain constant companions. Conrad loves exploring Goa’s new restaurants and documenting cultures on the move. Music is a daily staple, “good playlists run in the family”, and cameras of every kind (action cam, DSLR, drone) are usually within reach. Fitness and joy converge on a dance floor: “I canjiveallnight,”helaughs.
In an earlier phase of the business, he launched a YouTube channel, The Goan Explorers, to spotlight hidden gems across the state, an idea he hopes to reignite. Giving back is integral: he supports educationfocused CSR through his school alumni network and wants to scale both reach and impact. “Children are our future; access to educationchangeseverything.”
SOCIETY,INFLUENCE&ASPIRATIONS
“Success is becoming the best you’re capable of, and making your family proud,” he says, placingpersonalfulfilmentabovepublicnoise. He cites Dhirubhai Ambani: “Ideas are no one’s monopoly. Think big, think fast, think ahead”, andCristianoRonaldo:“Talentwithoutworking hard is nothing”, as enduring inspirations. The translation into real estate is clear: professionalism,trust,andfollow-through.
As Conrad Homes matures, expect deeper education initiatives and a ‘Plant a Tree’ programme tied to projects. His advice to young Goans is crisp: “Believe in yourself and give100%.Learn,unlearn,relearn.”
LOOKINGAHEAD
On the anvil: exclusive luxury villa and apartment launches in North Goa for investors and end-users who value quality and clarity. With seven years of momentum, “from 1-crore villas to multi-crore transactions”, Conrad Homes is also eyeing Dubai and Bali for international expansion, while doubling down on social storytelling to showcase premium inventoryandtransparentprocesses. Exploremoreatwww.conradhomesgoa.com
QUICKTAKES
Ÿ If not real estate? A travel company craftingauthenticGoaexperiences.
Ÿ Forever-favourite plate? Fish curry rice withprawns.
Ÿ A surprise? Travel-and-food vlogger, a twin,andtheshyone.
Ÿ Mantra? Livelifetothefullest.
THECLOSINGNOTE
In the end, Conrad’s metric isn’t a headline valuation; it’s a key turning in the right door, a familysettlingintoaneighbourhoodthatfits,a classroom funded, a sapling taking root. If the next chapter takes Conrad Homes overseas, the signature won’t change: homes that feel honest, growth that feels earned, and a Goa he refuses to outgrow. That, more than any plaque on a wall, is the legacy he’s building, oneaddress,onefamily,onepromiseatatime. Conrad leaves readers with a simple but powerfulmessage:
“You only have one life, make the most of it. Follow your dreams with hard work and determination, and success will follow. VivaGoa!”
WHERE THE SEA MEETS SERVICE
Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa's New Wing of High Luxury
By IG TEAM
Goa has long been India's sunlit playground, but luxury here is being redefined with the unveiling of an entirely reimagined wing at Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa. Larger and thoughtfullydesigned,thesesea-facingrooms open a fresh chapter for high-end travellers. At the heart of this promise is a hallmark of Taj hospitality:thebutler.
ANEWDIMENSIONOFLUXURY
The renovated wing is a masterclass in refined living. Rooms have been expanded to offer flowing layouts filled with light and luxury. The interiors blend contemporary elegance with subtle nods to Goa's heritage, while floor-toceiling windows frame the Arabian Sea in all itsglory.Upper-levelterracesextendtheliving
experience outdoors, creating spaces for reflective mornings or private sundowners. On the ground floor, intimate patios invite guests to greet the day with freshly brewed coffee as thefirstlightcatchesthewaves. This sense of scale, space to think, relax and to justbe-placesthenewwingfirmlyintherealm of high luxury. For global travellers accustomed to the world's best, it offers both indulgenceanddiscretion.
THEBUTLER:YOURCURATOROFMOMENTS
In these new rooms, luxury is not limited to design; it is elevated by service. A dedicated butler attends to every detail, transforming a stay into a series of bespoke moments. Breakfast arrives on the terrace just as the
morning sun spills across the horizon. A private city engagement is arranged seamlesslyperhaps a heritage walk through the colourful Latin Quarter or a culinary immersion into Goa's spice-scented kitchens. By evening your patio is reimagined as an elegant sundowner lounge, complete with handcrafted cocktails, smallplates,andtheseaasyourbackdrop. This is not service in the ordinary sense. It is anticipation, intuition and artistry. The butler ensures your time is spent not on planning, but onsavouring.
EXCLUSIVITYASTHENEWLUXURY
Beyond its contemporary luxury, Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa is steeped in the heritage and natural beauty of Goa. Set
against the ramparts of a 17th-century Portuguese fort, the resort carries the echoes of history in its very walls. This iconic landmark, which once stood guard over the Arabian Sea, today shelters a sanctuary of refined hospitality where heritage coexists seamlessly with modern indulgence. Strolling through its grounds guests encounter winding pathways shaded by towering coconut palms frangipani trees, and lush tropical foliage that create a senseoftimelessserenity.
The resort's location on a hilltop ridge offers sweeping views of the coastline, but equally captivating is the vibrant greenery within the property itself. Birds flit between canopies, bougainvillea drapes stairways in cascades of colour, and carefully preserved gardens frame every view with freshness. This interplay of fort walls, tropical flora, and sea breezes crafts an atmospherethatfeelsbothgroundedinhistory and alive with nature's abundance. At Taj Fort Aguada guests are not just in a luxury resort they are immersed in a living heritage where Goa'snaturalbeautyandculturallegacycome togetherinaharmonyasenduringasthetides. While many properties measure success in numbers, Taj Fort Aguada Resort &Spa has chosen another path. It's newly opened wing emphasizesexclusivityoverscaleandintimacy over volume. With larger and more indulgent rooms,theresortensuresthateveryguestfeels like the center of attention. Here, space, privacy and personalized service are the true markersofluxury.
ALIFESTYLEBYTHESEA
What makes this new wing exceptional is the rhythm it creates. Mornings begin with a butler served breakfast on the terrace, afternoons unfold with curated city engagements and
evenings close with sundowners on your private patio. Every transition is seamless, everymomentthoughtfullycurated. Perched dramatically on the ramparts of the historic fort, SFX is more than a lounge—it is Goa's most celebrated sundown spot. As the day mellows into evening, the horizon glows in shades of amber and coral, casting a magical backdrop for handcrafted cocktails and eclectic tapas. The panoramic views from SFX stretch across the sweeping curve of Sinquerim Bay, where fishing boats glide back home and the waves shimmer in the fading light.
Thelounge'satmosphereiseffortlesslychicyet inviting, drawing both connoisseurs of fine
drinks and seekers of unforgettable sunsets. From artisanal gin infusions to expertly crafted zero-proof cocktails, every sip at SFX is designed to pair perfectly with the setting sun. Whether enjoyed in quiet reflection or with lively company, evenings here feel suspended in time. To watch the sun dip into the Arabian Sea from SFX is to experience Goa's romance distilledintoasingle,goldenmoment.
At Paper Moon authenticity is the essence. The legendary Italian restaurant born in Milan and celebrated worldwide, brings to Goa the tradition of honest Italian cuisine. Here food is not just prepared, it is crafted with passion: hand-tossed pizzas from a wood-fired oven, perfectly al dente pastas, and fresh seasonal produce. The menu reflects Italy's timeless culinary philosophy - simplicity, balance, and flavourthatspeaksforitself.
Set against the sea, Paper Moon's atmosphere is warm and elegant, designed for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings. Guests can savour dishes like a delicate burrata paired with sun dried tomatoes or indulge in rich tiramisu that lingers sweetly on the palate. Every plate tells the story of tradition carried forwardwithintegrity.AtPaperMoon,diningis notabouttrendsorembellishments—itisabout food that is true honest and made to be remembered,theItalianway.
With its newly renovated sea-facing wing, Taj FortAguadaResort&Spahasredefinedluxury on India's western coastline. Larger rooms, expansive terraces and intimate patios set the stage, while butler service transforms each stay into a personal narrative of indulgence. For the high-end traveller, this is not simply hospitality-itistheartoflivingwell,wherethe seameetsserviceinperfectharmony.
When it comes to food, celebrations, and unforgettable memories in Goa, one name consistently stands out — Copperleaf. Renowned for its warm hospitality, authentic flavors, and thoughtfully curated spaces, Copperleaf has grown beyond being just a restaurant; it has become a destination where everyvisitfeelslikeacelebration.
GOA'S GO-TO DESTINATION FOR FOOD & CELEBRATIONS
From intimate dinners to birthdays and grand family gatherings, Copperleaf has established itself as the perfect backdrop for every occasion. With two flagship outlets — Panaji and Porvorim — the restaurant is known for deliveringawholesomediningexperiencethat blends exceptional cuisine, refined interiors, andaward-winningservice.
Guestsmayarriveforthefood,butwhatkeeps them returning are the memories created withinitswalls.Fromlavishseafoodspreadsto traditional Goan thalis, Copperleaf's menu caters to both locals and travelers who seek a taste of authenticity presented with a modern touch.
CELEBRATIONSPERFECTED
The restaurant's thoughtfully designed interiors, including private dining rooms, make it an ideal venue for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gatherings, and milestone moments. What sets Copperleaf apart is the
team's commitment to going the extra mile. With personalized buffet menus and impeccable service, every celebration here is seamless, joyful, and infused with flavor. Whether it's raising a toast with friends or sharing a cake-cutting moment with family, Copperleaf ensures that every detail is taken care of, allowing guests to truly enjoy the occasion.
THECOPPERLEAFEXPERIENCE
Whether visiting Copperleaf Panaji or Porvorim, guests are welcomed into an atmosphere defined by soothing ambience, warm hospitality, and unmatched service. It is this holistic experience that has elevated Copperleaf into one of Goa's most cherished diningdestinations.
A DOUBLE TREAT: TWO NEW BIRYANI FLAVOURS
Staying true to its promise of constant innovation, Copperleaf recently introduced not one, but two new biryanis — Murg Tikka Biryani and Butter Chicken Biryani. Crafted with the finest ingredients and layered with fragrant spices, these creations are designed to delight both traditional biryani aficionados and those eager for something refreshingly different. Every bite is infused with the signature Copperleaf touch, making them the perfect reason to revisit this much-loved restaurant.
HONORED AT THE WORLD HOSPITALITY EXPO2025
Adding to its growing list of achievements, Copperleaf was recently recognized at the WorldHospitalityExpo2025,whereitreceived the award in the prestigious category of Eclectic Design. This honor is a testament to the restaurant's vision of creating spaces that seamlesslyunitefood,culture,anddesign. The award was received by Restaurant Manager, Mr. Milan Pradhan, from Mr. Dattaram Kandalkar, Client Partner – Business and Director at World of Hospitality, marking a proud moment for the entire Copperleaf family. The recognition not only acknowledges Copperleaf's commitment to excellence but also celebrates the hard work and creativity of its team, who continue to set new benchmarks inGoa'shospitalityscene.
THEESSENCEOFCOPPERLEAF
At its core, Copperleaf is more than just a place to dine. It is where families come together, friends reconnect, milestones are celebrated, and food lovers explore the very best of Goa's culinary heritage. With awardwinning design, inventive culinary additions, and a reputation as Goa's premier celebration hub, Copperleaf continues to redefine the essenceofdininginthestate.
SUSTAINABLE GOA
BEYOND THE BEACH CLEAN-UP
What Will Really Save Goa’s Coastline?
By Gauri Ghadge
Goa’s beaches have long been symbols of beauty and freedom: sun, sand, and the shimmering Arabian Sea. Yet beneath the postcard images lies a coastline in crisis. Each weekend, well-meaning volunteers don gloves and carry bags to sweep plastic from the sands. These clean-ups, while commendable, are only cosmetic. The truth is that litter is not what is eroding Goa’s shores, endangering turtles, or poisoning nearshore waters. What really matters are deeper structural challenges: unchecked erosion, disappearing dunes, untreated sewage, illegal sand mining, andinconsistentenforcementofcoastalrules.
If Goa is serious about saving its coast, it must move beyond photo opportunities and tackle thesecomplex,systemicproblems.
THECRISISOFEROSION
Scientific assessments show that Goa is losing ground, literally. A national shoreline study (1990–2016) found about 12% of Goa’s coastline eroding. Updated assessments (1990–2018) placed this at ~19%, and more recent reviews note that around 25% of stretches are critically eroding. Reports suggest that in some stretches, particularly in North Goa, more than a quarter of beaches are severely eroded. Erosion is driven by unregulated construction along the coast, sand mining in rivers, dredging, and climaterelatedsea-levelrise.
When waves eat into the beach, temporary clean-upsoffernosolution.WhatGoaneedsis a comprehensive shoreline management plan based on sand budgets and scientific mapping. Without this, stretches of once-
Sand dunes are not decorative hills of sand; they are living barriers. They store sediment, absorb storm surges, and protect inland areas from flooding. Recognising their importance, the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management was asked to map Goa’s dunes. Yet, enforcement often comes too late. In July 2025, the Bombay High Court at Goa ordered an immediate halt to JCB work cutting into the ancient dunes at Morjim, a turtle nesting habitat.
Every time dunes are bulldozed or levelled for shacks, parking, or weddings, Goa loses natural armour. Rebuilding dunes through fencing, dune grass planting, and strict “nobuild zones” is a far more effective investment
thanweeklyclean-ups.
TURTLE HABITATS AND THE BATTLE FOR DARKNESS
Goa’s beaches are also nesting grounds for the endangered Olive Ridley turtle. These creaturesneeddarkness,silence,andspaceto safely lay their eggs. However, beaches such as Morjim and Agonda are often lit with floodlights,packedwithshacks,andfilledwith noiseduringnestingseason.
A turtle habitat management plan submitted to the High Court in 2025 recommends shackfree nesting strips, shielded lighting, and restrictions on beach activities during key months . If strictly enforced, such measures could ensure Goa continues to host these gentle visitors for generations. Saving the turtles isn’t only about biodiversity; it is about protecting Goa’s global reputation as a state thatvaluesnature.
SEWAGE:THEHIDDENPOLLUTER
Perhapsthemosturgentyetleastvisiblethreat is sewageIn 2024–25, GSPCB sampling showed 11 of 20 monitored beaches recorded faecal coliform and BOD levels above CPCB norms at various times, confirming contamination from untreated or partially treated sewage. Popular beaches such as Baga, Colva, and Miramar have repeatedly tested positive for high bacterial contamination, low oxygen levels, and faecal matter.
One incident in August 2025 highlighted the problem starkly: the Baga sewage treatment plant was reportedly overwhelmed by tanker inflows, raising fears of untreated discharge intotheriverandsea.
No amount of plastic removal can fix what untreated sewage destroys. The solution lies in fullyfunctionalsewagetreatmentplants,strict
monitoring,andpenaltiesforillegaldischarge. Publishing monthly water quality reports can keep both locals and tourists informed, while forcingaccountabilityonoperators.
CRZ AND THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENTPLAN
The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, lays out clear categories of protection: CRZ-I for dunes, mangroves, and turtle sites; CRZ-II for developed urban areas; and CRZ-III/IV for villages and waters. Goa is requiredtohaveaCoastalZoneManagement Plan (CZMP) that maps sensitive features and guidesdecisions.
However, delays and ambiguities in finalising Goa’s CZMP have left loopholes. Construction projects often push forward while the plan is contested. Saving the coast requires urgency: complete the CZMP, notify it, and enforce it without bending rules. Transparency is key; public dashboards showing violations and enforcement actions can deter illegal development.
SANDMININGANDSEDIMENTSTARVATION
Illegal sand mining in Goa’s rivers accelerates beach loss by cutting off the natural sediment supply.Riversandfeedscoastalsystems;when it is removed excessively, beaches shrink. Scientists have proposed sand nourishment projects, placing sand strategically to let tides redistribute it, as done successfully in the Netherlands.
But any solution must be science-led. Goa must clamp down on illegal mining, regulate legal extraction, and pilot nourishment in eroding stretches. Without a sediment supply, every beach clean-up is like sweeping a floor thatisdisappearingunderyourfeet.
MANGROVES:SILENTPROTECTORS
Mangroves may not make postcard pictures,
buttheyarecriticalforcoastalresilience.They stabilise shorelines, filter pollutants, and shelter fish nurseries. Under CRZ rules, mangroves enjoy the highest protection (CRZI). Yet they are still encroached upon by roads, housing,andgarbagedumping.
Instead of token plantation drives, Goa must invest in long-term mangrove protection: fencing, sewage diversion from creeks, and survival monitoring. A thriving mangrove belt is one of the best natural defences against erosionandstormsurges.
TOURISMANDCARRYINGCAPACITY
Tourism sustains Goa’s economy but strains its ecology. Shack allotments, beach parties, and unchecked nightlife bring light, noise, and waste to fragile shores. Turtle nesting beaches show what is possible: regulate shack numbers, restrict lighting, and enforce removable,seasonalstructures.
Extending such principles to other beaches can balance commerce with conservation. Tourists don’t come to Goa for garbage-lined creeks or polluted seawater. Protecting the carrying capacity ensures the beaches remain attractiveandhealthy.
WHATREALLYMATTERS
If Goa wants to secure its coastline, it must think in systems, not selfies. The roadmap is clear:
Ÿ Finalise and enforce the CZMP. No more ad-hocapprovals.
Ÿ Fix sewage treatment plants. Make waterqualitymonitoringpublic.
Ÿ Protect and restore dunes. Enforce nobuilddunezones.
Ÿ Enforce turtle beach management. Dark skies,quietsands.
CONCLUSION:ACOASTWORTHSAVING Beach clean-ups will always have value in community engagement, but they are not a salvation. Goa’s coast will only be saved when science, governance, and community align to address root causes. Erosion, sewage, sand mining, and habitat loss demand political will andeverydayvigilance.
The future of Goa’s coastline depends not on thenumberofbagsofplasticcollected,buton whether the sea still meets dunes, turtles still nest in silence, and children can still swim withoutfearofpollutedwater.
Saving the coast is not glamorous, it is technical, difficult, and disciplined. But it is alsotheonlywaytoensurethatGoa’sbeaches remain not just clean for a weekend, but alive forgenerations.
SUSTAINABLE GOA
SUSTAINABLE GOA 2030 – CAN THIS PARADISE BECOME INDIA’S FIRST CARBON-NEUTRAL STATE?
Goa has always been almost too perfect with its lush greenery, golden sand beaches, gushing rivers and beautiful sunsets, making it one of the most attractive states in India. The reality hits when we realise that this mesmerising state has the potential to become India’s first carbon-neutral state by 2030.Canitreally?Let'sdivedeeperandsee. Well, it has been an aim for a long time, and foundations are already being laid. If we reorganise the way we think about how to build, travel and live, most of the problems get a solution. Goa is now beginning to show how asmallstatecanleadinabigwaybyinvesting in renewable energy projects & green infrastructure. Solutions that reimagine materials, water and waste management are atthecoreofthischange.
Rethinking Development - Carbon neutrality is about re-examining the way we build, travel, and consume resources. Goa needs power that’s renewable and reliable. While solar rooftops and wind energy are paving the way, it’s also about how efficiently that energy is used. At EP Biocomposites, we build FRP products ranging from doors to gratings that require less maintenance and replacement and are lightweight and durable. Fewer repairs mean lower energy use in manufacturing and transport, directly reducingthestate’scarbonfootprint.
Smarter Cities, Stronger Infrastructure - Cities are only as sustainable as the materials they are built from. By reducing material wastage and extending product life cycles we can support the idea of sustainable cities. Imagine doors, roofing, or fencing systems that don’t rust in the rain, warp in the sun, or rot with age —solutionslikethesemakecitiesmoreresilient to Goa’s coastal climate while saving both costandeffortinthelongrun.
Managing Waste and Water - If there is one issue that touches every Goan community, it is water. Our rivers and the Arabian Sea are lifelines,yettheyfaceincreasingpressurefrom pollution, untreated waste, and overuse. Closing the loop through recycling and treatment is no longer optional; it’s essential. Cleaner water, safer disposal, and reduced reliance on fresh supplies will shape whether Goa can protect its ecological balance while still meeting the needs of a growing population.
Building the Goa We Leave Behind - Achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 will demand vision, innovation and collaboration. With EP Biocomposites at the forefront of sustainable materialsandwastewatertreatmentsolutions, the state has a practical roadmap to achieve this goal. This is where local innovation becomes a game-changer and equally important is how sewage waste is managed.
EPBiocompositeshasbeenworkingquietlybut consistently on solutions that help Goa move closertoitscarbon-neutraldream.
EP Biocomposites has designed and installed Sewage Treatment Plants, Effluent Treatment Plants and Biodigesters that recycle wastewater, ensuring it doesn’t end up polluting our rivers and coasts. By offering practical, scalable solutions for housing societies, hotels and industries, the company demonstrateshowsustainabilitycanbepartof everydayinfrastructure.
EP Biocomposites is proud to be part of this movement — because while protecting the Goa we inherited matters, building the Goa weleavebehindmattersevenmore.
FOLLOW
INSPECTOR ZENDE
The Supercop’s Story on
Netflix
Released on Netix in September 2025, Inspector Zende dives into one of India’s most riveting true-crime sagas—the capture of Charles Sobhraj, the elusive serial killer and conman who gained international infamy in the 1970s and ’80s. Instead of glorifying the criminal, the lm shifts focus to the man who relentlessly pursued him: Inspector Madhukar Zende of the Mumbai Police, whose sharp instincts and persistence led to Sobhraj’s arrest on more than one occasion.
At the heart of this retelling is Chinmay Mandlekar, a celebrated Marathi actor best known for his nuanced performances in lms and theatre. With Inspector Zende, Mandlekar takes a bold, creative leap, making his directorial debut in the Hindi lm industry. By stepping behind the camera, he offers audiences a fresh perspective—choosing to celebrate an unsung hero of Indian policing rather than perpetuate the larger-than-life aura around Sobhraj. His transition from acting to direction not only widens his artistic canvas but also highlights the growing cross-pollination between regional cinema and mainstream Hindi storytelling. Through a mix of suspense, drama, and
sharp character portrayals, Mandlekar’s lm revisits history with an intent to humanize the pursuit of justice, reminding viewers that behind every infamous criminal is often a determined lawman whose story deserves equal recognition. The real case of Charles Sobhraj is inherently gripping; adapting it into a “cat-and-mouse” format with a relatively lesser-known hero (Zende) gives a fresh angle. For viewers interested in true crime or India’s criminal history, this provides both novelty and emotional investment. The lm shines most when it embraces a lighter, almost playful thriller tone—striking a ne balance between suspense and humor. The investigative sequences, from following leads to piecing together clues and planning operations, stand out as particularly engaging and keep the story moving with energy. The period detail (1970s/80s India) is reasonably well done, giving nostalgia, specic texture to Mumbai / Goa settings, and an environment without modern tech, which raises the stakes of detection and chase.
Manoj Bajpayee anchors the lm with a deeply grounded performance, embodying Inspector Zende with quiet
authority and emotional depth that make the character instantly credible. Opposite him, Jim Sarbh infuses the antagonist with just the right mix of charm and cunning, capturing the slippery allure of a criminal who has mastered the art of evasion. The supporting cast, though less prominently highlighted, complements the leads effectively. Each secondary character—be it fellow ofcers, accomplices, or background players—serves to enhance the world of the lm without overwhelming the central conict. While the spotlight remains rmly on Bajpayee and Sarbh, the ensemble supports them with the right amount of texture and presence.
When Incredible Goa got the chance to meet the original super cop, Inspector Zende, it felt like stepping into a slice of history. Sitting across from him, listening to his stories, was an experience in itself. What struck us most was not just the adventures he has lived through, but how grounded he remains—a man who carries his duty with quiet pride and takes the ght against crime with utmost seriousness.
If you go into Inspector Zende expecting a wholly serious biopic or a dark, deeply psychological true crime story, you may come away feeling the lm holds back. But if you appreciate strong performances, a well paced chase, some humour, and a throwback to older investigation style, it delivers enough. It’s not perfect—but it’s a worthwhile addition to the genre, and probably one of the more entertaining Netix crime offerings recently.
FOLLOWUSON
AWARENESS
A Modern Challenge FAKENEWSANDMISINFORMATION
In today’s digital age, information is available at the touch of a button. While this has empowered societies with knowledge and awareness, it has also created a serious challenge. In a world where news travels faster than the speed of light—spreading from one smartphone screen to millions in seconds—truth has found itself in crisis. Welcome to the age of fake news and misinformation, where rumours masquerade as facts, opinions are dressed up as evidence, and lies can sometimes feel louder than the truth. “Fake news” isn’t just about silly hoaxes anymore. It refers to deliberately fabricated information, created to mislead readers. Misinformation, on the other hand, is slightly different—it’s when false or inaccurate content is shared unknowingly. Both can misguide people, but fake news is especially dangerous because it’s often designed with an agenda: political influence, profit, or propaganda. With billions of active users, social media has become a breeding ground for rumours, hoaxes, and unverified claims. Many people are unable to distinguish between credible sources and misleading content. Individuals tend to believe information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs, regardless of its authenticity. Usually, people do not seek out the objective facts behind any information and start interpreting information to support existing beliefs.
Fake news is often created to influence elections, promote ideologies, or sell products. Fake news stories can sway public opinion, spread rumours about candidates, amplify propaganda, fuel hate, and gain more followers on social media. Newsrooms today face immense competition. With dozens of outlets, apps, and platforms fighting for attention, being the first to report has become the ultimate prize. But in this race, fact-checking often gets left behind. A half-verified claim is pushed out, hoping to be corrected later. By then, the damage is already done—because the false story has already gone viral. Anyone can post “news” instantly. Platforms reward speed, clicks, and shares—not accuracy. In fact, studies show that false information spreads faster than true news, because it’s often more sensational and emotionally charged. For instance, the viral spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised various psychological issues among the public and led them to adopt inappropriate protective measures. False medical advice and conspiracy theories led to confusion and even loss of lives. Individuals and organizations can suffer severe harm due to baseless rumours. Continuous exposure to fake news and misinformation weakens trust in media and institutions.
Addressing this issue requires collective
responsibility:
Ÿ It is important to promote Media Literacy among citizens. Media literacy empowers us to move beyond being passive consumers of information. Instead, it makes us active participants—equipped with the tools to question what we read, watch, and hear. Without it, we would struggle to factcheck claims or to separate trustworthy reporting from biased or misleading content.
Ÿ Independent organizations should verify claims and expose falsehoods. They must separate truth from falsehood and protect people from being misled by fake news, misinformation, or biased reporting.
Ÿ Governments and technology companies must work together to monitor and curb the spread of fake content without harming free speech.
Ÿ Media outlets should prioritize accuracy over speed and avoid sensationalism.
Ÿ Every person must think before sharing, cross-check information, and rely on credible sources.
Fake news and misinformation are among the biggest challenges of the digital era. They distort reality, divide societies, and undermine trust. The solution lies not only in technology or regulation but also in the conscious effort of individuals to verify information before accepting or sharing it. By fostering critical thinking, promoting digital literacy, and encouraging ethical journalism, societies can protect themselves from the harmful effects of false information. Fake news and misinformation are shadows that thrive in the digital glow of our screens. They remind us that in this fast-paced information age, truth needs defenders—not just journalists or governments, but ordinary citizens too. The power to stop the spread of lies often lies in the simplest of actions: reading carefully, questioning critically, and sharing responsibly.
So, the next time you come across a shocking headline or a too-good-to-be-true story, ask yourself: Is it real—or just another trick in the age of misinformation?
STARTUP
FUNDING BEYOND METROS
For decades, India’s startup landscape was defined by Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad. These metro powerhouses drew the lion’s share of capital, talent, and media attention. Yet in 2025, a quiet shift is underway. Investors are starting to look beyond the crowded metros, and Goa, once known primarily as a holiday destination, is emerging as a serious contender on the entrepreneurial map.
(SITPC), making them eligible for state benefits. The numbers reflect not just quantity but also growing confidence in the ecosystem.
Startups with a Niche
Edge
What makes Goa’s ecosystem stand out is its focus on local relevance with global potential. Many of its young companies operate in areas that speak directly to sustainability, community well-being, and tourism innovation. Eco-friendly packaging, waste-to-resource solutions, and renewable energy projects for coastal communities are all part of the mix. At the same time, digital platforms are enhancing travel and hospitality , a natural strength for a state where tourism contributes a major share of GDP.
Why Investors Are Eyeing Goa’s Startup Scene FOLLOW US ON
A Policy Framework with Teeth Goa’s progress has not happened by accident. The Goa Startup Policy 2021–25, implemented through the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC) under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, provides a structured foundation. The policy offers a range of incentives, from subsidies on co-working spaces and mentorship programs to reimbursements for patents, trademarks, and R&D. It is designed to help early-stage ventures survive their fragile beginnings while encouraging innovation aligned with Goa’s priorities.
The results are visible. In 2017, Goa had only a handful of recognised startups. Today, there are 651 DPIIT-recognised startups in Goa (as of July 2025), up from just 12 in 2017. Of these, over 260 have been formally certified by the Startup & IT Promotion Cell
For investors, this is an attractive territory. The startups may be small, but they are building in areas that intersect with global sustainability goals and tourism-tech innovations, sectors where demand is only expected to rise.
A Showcase for Innovation
The Goa Market Access Expo 2025 highlighted this momentum. Organised by SITPC, the event featured over 100 selected startups, with a broader participation of more than 350 startups registered for the showcase. The event brought together more
than a hundred selected startups, giving them the opportunity to pitch solutions not only to investors but also to government departments and corporates. Challenges ranged from waste management and rural credit delivery to governance technology, allowing startups to demonstrate how their models could be piloted in real-world scenarios.
This ability to act as a testbed for innovation sets Goa apart. With fewer barriers to pilot projects and direct government involvement, the state offers startups something metros often cannot — room to experiment.
Challenges and Opportunities
Of course, Goa is not without hurdles. Infrastructure remains a work in progress, the talent pool is smaller compared to larger cities, and incubator density is limited. Yet these very gaps create an opportunity. Earlystage investors can support ventures from the ground up and guide their expansion into national and global markets. Founders also note that operational expenses in Goa are often lower than in larger metros, giving startups more breathing space to refine their ideas.
A Story Still Unfolding
For Goa’s entrepreneurs, investor attention is both validation and fuel. For investors, it is a chance to participate in a story still in its early chapters, one where relatively modest bets could yield significant impact.
Goa may always be celebrated for its palmlined beaches and laid-back charm, but beneath the coconut trees, a new identity is taking shape. The state is steadily proving that it is more than a tourist paradise. It is a place where innovation thrives, where startups are finding their voice, and where investors are finally starting to listen.
E-WASTE AND THE HIDDEN COST OF TECH IN GOA
Goa’s embrace of technology has been swift. Smartphones, laptops, smart TVs and wearables now sit at the centre of daily life. But each upgrade leaves behind a trail of electronic waste — or e-waste, and the question grows sharper: what happens to the devices we discard?
Unlike paper or glass, e-waste isn’t ordinary trash. Discarded chargers, batteries, laptops and phones often contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium; when dumped or burned, these can contaminate soil, water and air and carry serious health risks, especially for children and pregnant people. The World Health Organisation and other bodies have documented links between informal e-waste handling and neurodevelopmental and respiratory harms. For a coastal state like Goa, with fragile aquifers and ecosystems, the stakes are higher.
At the national level, India generated 12,54,286.55 metric tonnes of e-waste in FY 2023–24, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The figure rose to 13,97,955.59 tonnes in 2024–25, underscoring a steady upward trend as device use expands.
Goa’s share is smaller than that of large metros, but far from trivial. A recent assessment cited by the state’s policy process estimates nearly 7,000 tonnes of ewaste per year in Goa, with officials warning about leakages into unsafe, informal
processing.
Policy is beginning to catch up. The Government of Goa approved the E-Waste Management Policy 2024 (implemented by the Goa Waste Management Corporation, GWMC), which aligns the state with India’s E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. The policy emphasises a circular-economy approach, clearer roles for agencies, capacity building, and compliance with the national framework, including proper collection, safe dismantling and recycling. On the ground, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) maintains a public list of authorised e-waste collection centres and related Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) documentation, providing residents and bulk generators with formal channels for disposal. Under the 2022 Rules, producers are responsible for ensuring collection and environmentally sound processing through EPR systems.
Awareness is also inching forward. Several institutions in Goa have hosted e-waste drives and campaigns, for example, collegeled drives reported by Goa University (Feb 2024) and local panchayat-level initiatives, signalling a gradual shift from ad-hoc disposal toward responsible handover to authorised handlers.
Yet gaps persist. Reports accompanying the state’s policy work highlight that informal dismantling still occurs, often without protective gear or pollution controls, risking
toxic exposure and leaving behind unrecyclable residues. That means Goa loses twice: first in environmental safety, and again in valuable materials (like copper and gold) that are recoverable through proper recycling and support the circular economy. What would a stronger response look like? Three priorities stand out:
Ÿ Make formal pathways easy and visible. Expand the network and visibility of authorised collection points; ensure residents know where to drop off devices and how bulk generators (hotels, corporates, institutions) must comply.
Ÿ Enforce the rules that already exist. The 2022 E-Waste Rules and the state policy provide a clear framework; consistent enforcement and transparent reporting will curb leakages to the informal sector.
Ÿ Scale public campaigns and institutional drives. Regular, wellpublicised collection camps in schools, colleges and wards can turn responsible disposal into a habit, not an exception. Technology has made Goa more connected and productive, but the hidden cost is piling up in cupboards, scrap yards and dumps. Treating e-waste as a resource, not refuse, is the path forward: recover what’s valuable, contain what’s hazardous, and protect what’s irreplaceable; Goa’s land, water and health. With a policy foundation in place and formal channels available, the next step is ours: to use them.
FOLLOW US ON
SPORTS
HISTORIC CLASH BECKONS
FC Goa
vs Al-Nassr at Fatorda on October 22
When the whistle blows on October 22 at Goa’s Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Indian club football reaches a milestone moment: FC Goa vs Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League Two group stage. What makes it special isn’t merely the continental stakes, the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo making his first registered club appearance in India in ACL2 if he plays The Story So Far: Dreams, Doubts & Stakes
FC Goa have fought to be here. After navigating qualifying, the Gaurs now find themselves in Group D alongside heavyweights whose names inspire awe. For Goa supporters, this is the chance not just to see football, but to feel its pulse: to witness global stars, test tactical bones, and expand what Indian club football might become. Al-Nassr arrive under heightened expectations. Their squad depth and recent attacking exploits suggest they may seek dominance rather than merely treating the fixture as formality. Ronaldo is registered among their foreign contingent for ACL2, alongside Sadio Mané, João Félix, and Kingsley Coman. In matches such as the 5-0 win over FC Istiklol in their ACL2 opener (even without Ronaldo), they have demonstrated both firepower and strength off the bench—proof that they are coming to
compete, not just to qualify.
Key Questions Going Into the Match
Will Ronaldo play (his appearance is possible, though not confirmed), and if he does, how emphatically will he impact the match? His presence alone boosts the tenseness of every second for defenders, fans, and broadcasters alike.
Can FC Goa match intensity? The Gaurs’ strengths of pressing, transitional play, and home support might be their best weapons. But against players of Al-Nassr’s experience, tactical discipline and composure will matter more than flair.
How will Al-Nassr approach the game?
Whether with full force or measured caution, they must balance attack ambition with avoiding surprises. A misstep could allow Goa to steal moments.
Match Dynamics: What Goes On the Pitch Matters
Fatorda will be a cauldron, loud, expectant, demanding. FC Goa must exploit that crowd energy: early aggression, fast turnovers, and exploiting wide areas. Their midfield will need to win second balls. Defence must stay compact to handle transitions. Goalkeeper positioning and counterattacks might decide vital moments.
For Al-Nassr, speed in attack, use of width, and creative movement around zone 14 will
be critical. Set pieces could be decisive. Their bench strength means tactical adjustments are possible if Goa manage to resist early pressure.
What’s At Stake — Beyond Points
Yes: points towards qualification. But more: legacy. For Indian football, this is a benchmark match. For FC Goa, a defining night. For Al-Nassr, an opportunity to cement continental dominance. And for fans? A chance to say, “I was there when it happened.”
On October 22, Fatorda transforms. The stadium, the players, the millions watching, all stand on a threshold. Whether history is made by goal after goal or by a courageous underdog’s defiant fight, this is a match that promises everything. Brace yourself.
THE GLOBAL EDGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT: YOUR SMART FINANCIAL TRIAD
In today’s fast-paced world, achieving the perfect balance between liquidity, savings, and investment can often feel like juggling different accounts and transfer rules. The Global Edge Savings Account from Bank of Maharashtra reimagines this dynamic, offering a seamless, integrated banking experience that elevates how you manage yourmoney.
The Global Edge account is ingeniously structured with three interconnected components to simplifyandamplifyyoursavings:
Ÿ Spend Account — Your go-to fordailyexpenses.
Ÿ Reserve Account — A secondary savings layer to parksurplus.
Ÿ Growth Account — A 31-day fixed deposit designed for strategicaccumulation.
TheGlobalEdgeSavingsAccount reimagines personal finance by blending spending flexibility, savings growth, and liquidity into a unified banking solution. If your Spend Account balance is low, funds are automatically covered from your linked accounts. What’s more, your Reserve and Growth Accounts remain fully protected from unauthorized access—giving
you extra peace of mind and stronger protection against cyber fraud.
The Smart Transaction Capability within the Global Edge Savings Account isn't just a feature—it’s a commitment to making everyday banking effortlessly smart. It anticipates your needs and preemptively manages funds.It delivers convenience without compromise, matching the expectation set by ultraconvenient systems like UPI. It embodies the potential of smart banking: an empowered, seamless financial experience thatkeepspacewithyourlife.
Wealth Accumulation: Build Your Financial Corpus, Effortlessly
This feature simplifies and automates financial growth. By quietly redirecting your spare balances into short-term FDs, it ensures your money is always working—even while you sleep. It’s the perfect blend of discipline, automation, and high-yield efficiency. It takes advantage of the powerful auto-sweep
instrumentsautomatically When your balance exceeds a set limit, the surplus is automatically transferred into an FD, earning a higher interest rate than standard savings. If your savings balance dips below the threshold, funds are seamlessly transferred back from the FD to your account, ensuringliquidity.Thesweptfunds earn FD interest, while your savings at the same time accrue regularsavingsinterest.
Whocanopentheaccount?
Ÿ The account is for individuals aged 18 and above and requiresfullKYCcompliance.
Ÿ The individual must follow guidelines for ‘CA - Need for Discipline‘.
mechanism, ensuring your idle funds get channelled into higher-yielding instruments, withoutanymanualeffort.
Built-In Liquidity: No funds, no fuss
The Built-In Liquidity component seamlessly unlocks the funds from your Reserve or Growth buckets when needed,it offers continuous transaction assurance, uninterrupted liquidity, and the peace of mind that comes from an intelligent, automated cash management system. It features real banking tools like the autosweep/sweep-inandsweep-out mechanisms. In such systems, excess funds automatically shift intofixeddeposits,andaredrawn back when needed—maintaining bothyieldandliquidity.
ValueonIdleBalances:LetYour SavingsGrowSilently
This feature positions the Global Edge Savings Account as more than a regular savings tool—it’s a smart, self-operating financial ally. It ensures your money is always in motion, earning where it countswhilekeepingitaccessible whenyouneedit.
Higher Yield Opportunities: Channel a portion of your balance into fixed-return
Ÿ The individual is also obliged to submit a declaration stating that he/she is not enjoying any Commercial Cash Credit Facility from the banking system.
TheGlobalEdgeSavingsAccount from Bank of Maharashtra is tailored for individuals seeking to optimize their financial growth while maintaining easy access to funds,this account offers a blend of convenience, higher returns, and automated financial management.
GOA BRANCH OF ICAI WELCOMES LANDMARK GST 2.0 REFORMS
The Goa Branch (WIRC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has warmly welcomed the GST 2.0 Reforms announced by the Government of India during the 56th GST Council Meeting. The reforms, which introduce a simplified two-slab tax structure and rationalized rates across key sectors, have been hailed as a major milestone in India's tax evolution.
Under the new system, GST will operate with two slabs, along
with a higher rate exclusively for luxury and sin goods. This rationalization is aimed at streamlining the tax regime, reducing complexity, and creating a more business- and consumer-friendlyenvironment.
Commenting on the development, CA Vishwanath Bhobe, Chairperson of the Goa Branch of ICAI, said: “These reforms mark a transformative step in the journey of GST. By simplifying the structure and rationalizing rates,
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the government has created a framework that will ease compliance, stimulate consumption, and catalyze economic growth. The exemption of individual health insurance premiums from GST is particularly noteworthy, as it is both a welfare measure and a boost to insurance penetration.”
The Goa Branch highlighted that rationalized rates in automotive, textiles, dairy, construction, and healthcare will likely enhance affordability, stimulate demand, and support growth across industries. Administrative reforms such as the Simplified Registration Scheme for small businesses and the Provisional Refund Mechanism for MSMEs are also expected to ease entry barriers and improve working capitalefficiency.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Branch emphasized that CharteredAccountantswillplaya crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition to the new framework.
As trusted advisors and compliance partners, they will
support businesses in adopting the revised system, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and alignment with the government's vision of a simplified, fair, and growth-orientedtaxecosystem.
FITNESS
By Norbert D’Souza
SCULPT & BURN: THE ULTIMATE LOWER BODY FAT-LOSS WORKOUT
Lower-body workouts aren’t just about leg day. They’re about unlocking your body’s fat-burning potential. Pair this workout with a balanced, protein-rich diet, and you’ll not only drop fat but also build a strong, athletic foundation.
When it comes to burning fat and reshaping your body, your legs and glutes are secret weapons. Why? Because the lower body houses the largest muscle groups — quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Training them not only strengthens and tones your legs but also cranks up your metabolism, helping you torch calorieslongafteryou’veleftthegym. This Lower Body Fat-Loss Workout blendsstrengthtrainingwithexplosive cardio moves, giving you the perfect balance between muscle-building and fat-burning. The result? Stronger legs, firmer glutes, and a leaner physique.
Walking lunges (3 × 12 reps per leg) buildstability,whilereverselunges(3× 12 reps per leg) challenge balance andactivateglutesdeeply.
3. Hamstring & Glute Attack
Hipthrustsorglutebridges(3×15reps) sculpt the backside, and Romanian deadlifts (3 × 12 reps) tighten the hamstrings while shaping strong, lean legs.
4. Plyo Burners
Step-ups (3 × 20 reps, fast pace) and burpee squat jumps (3 × 10 reps) give your workout a cardio punch, shredding fat while strengthening lower-bodyendurance.
5. Calf & Core Duo
Regular exercise strengthens yourheartandlungsanditcan strengthen bones, slowing down the process of osteoporosis. It can help you move easily by keeping your joints, tendons and ligaments more flexible. Can help you lose weight when combined with good eating habits or maintain ideal weight by burning excess calories and promotesenseofwellbeing.
Jumpingjacks–1min
Highknees–1min
Bodyweightsquats–20reps
Dynamichipopeners&legswings–30 seceachside
These moves elevate your heart rate and loosen up the hips, preparing you forthehardworkahead.
STEP 2: STRENGTH MEETS SWEAT
1. Squat Supremacy
Start with squats, the king of leg exercises. Alternate between controlled goblet squats (3 × 15 reps) and explosive jump squats (3 × 12 reps). This combo builds muscle and spikescalorieburn.
Finish with standing calf raises (3 × 20 reps) to chisel your calves, paired with plank leg lifts (3 × 30 sec) for added coreactivation.
In under 10 minutes, you’ll boost metabolism, accelerate fat loss, and improvecardiovascularconditioning.
WHY IT WORKS
• Big Muscles, Big Burn: Training the lower body activates the largest muscles in the body, demanding higherenergy(calories)expenditure.
• Metabolic Boost: Strength + plyometric keeps your metabolism revvingforhours.
• Toning & Definition: Consistent training sculpts lean, defined legs and glutes.
Lower-bodyworkoutsaren’tjustabout leg day. They’re about unlocking your body’s fat-burning potential. Pair this workout with a balanced, protein-rich diet, and you’ll not only drop fat but also build a strong, athletic foundation.
So lace up your shoes, hit the floor, and let your legs lead the way to a leaner,fitteryou.
By CAGaurav Kenkre
GST COUNCIL CHANGES AND INVERTED DUTY STRUCTURE
processing inverted duty refunds. Businesses will now receive 90% of their refund claims provisionally after automated risk checks, similar to the system alreadyinplaceforexporters. The new provisional refund mechanism is expected to provide significant relief to manufacturers, exporters, and MSMEs where working capital gets blocked due to inverted duty structures. This reform enhances cash flow, reduces compliance burden, and strengthens ease of doingbusiness
The new provisional refund mechanism is expected to provide significant relief to manufacturers, exporters, and MSMEs where working capital gets blocked due to inverted duty structures. This reform enhances cash flow, reduces compliance burden, and strengthens ease of doing business
The 56th GST council has recently announced a slew of changes as far rates of goods and services are concerned. Most goods and services have had their rates being reduced from 12% or 18% to 5%.Whilethismaybringasmileto the face of consumer, manufacturers of such goods maybe in for some pain. Take the followingexample:
Item A requires raw material B and C for manufacturing. Earlier all 3 were taxed at 18% GST. So A would be sold in the market for egsforRs100+Rs18GST.Thecost of B and C was total Rs 60 (+ Rs 10.8 GST at 18%). The balance 40 is cost of labour and profits. So the manufacturer would finally pay Rs 18 MINUS Rs 10.8 (on purchase) = Rs 7.2 GST to the Government, after factoring in theinputcredit.
under the Inverted Duty Structure refund.
Key Eligibility Requirements for suchrefunds:
Ÿ The input tax rate must genuinely exceed the output taxrate
Ÿ The final product should not be nil-rated or fully exempt fromGST
Ÿ Theclaim mustbefiledwithin the prescribed time limit of two years from the end of the financialyear
Ÿ The taxpayer must have filed their GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B returns for the relevant tax period
Ÿ A trader cannot claim such refund.
ActionPoints:
Ÿ All manufacturers must check if the GST rate on their finished goods has been reduced
Ÿ Simultaneously, they must also check if the GST rate on their purchases is higher than thatontheirfinishedgoods
Ÿ Next, check if due to above, you will always have next excessGSTinputcredit
Ÿ If yes, and if your goods do not fall in the blocked for refund category, then you can prepare for filing a refund of suchexcesscredit.
CA Gaurav Kenkre is a CA in practice for the last 11 years. He is a regular speaker at various professional organizations, trade bodies, MNCs and Government bodies. He also writes regularly in local as well as national publications. Besides this he holds various positions in bodies such as ICAI, GCCI, Collegebodies,Rotaryetc.
After the rate change, Item A has become 5% but B and C continue to be 18%. In such case, GST on sale of A is now only Rs 5, and he hascreditofRs10.8,sohedoesn’t have to pay any GST to the government (input credit more than output). However, this input creditkeepspilingupandcreates a cash flow blockage. THIS structure, i.e. when the GST rate oninputsismorethanGSTrateon outputs, is known as inverted duty structure.
Due to this, several industries are expectedtofacecreditblockage due to recent GST rate changes. So, this GST which has piled up is lost?No.Thereisaprovisiontofile and claim a refund of such GST
Ÿ The refund is available only for input tax credit (ITC) on inputs (goods). on input services like consultancy and freight cannot be claimed as part of the inverted duty refund. Similarly, ITC on capitalgoodsisalsoexcluded fromtherefundcalculation
Businesses must file their inverted duty refund claims using Form GST RFD-01A on the GST portal. The application must be filed monthly for most taxpayers, though those with turnover up to 1.5 crore who file quarterly returns can apply quarterly. If the refund amount is above Rs 2 lac, thenaCAcertificateisneeded.
The New Provisional Refund Mechanism
Starting November 1, 2025, the GST Council has approved a revolutionary change in
By Prashant Kalra
BUYING A HOME IN GOA? 3 THINGS TO KNOW!
Owning a home in Goa is a dream for many, but it requires clear expectations and careful planning. Approach it with the right knowledge, and your Goan home will be an asset, not a liability.
Goa has long been known as India’s most vibrant beach destination—a place where the sun, sand, and sea draw thousands of visitors every year. But if you’re thinking of taking the next step from vacationer to homeowner, there are some important realities you need to understand before signing on the dotted line. Over the last 7 years helpingbuyersnavigatetheGoan property market, I’ve seen a lot of excitement, a fair share of confusion, and more than a few costly mistakes. Here are the three most important things you should know before buying your homeinGoa.
1. Goa Is Not As Cheap As You Think
turnkeyorarchitect-designed. What many first-time buyers don’t realize is that additional costs—legal fees, stamp duty, registration charges, can easily add 15% to your base price. If your intention is purely speculative, hoping to buy “cheap and sell high,” be cautious. Do thorough due diligence or engage a local expert who knows the market well.
2. Goa Is Much More Than Beaches
When people think of Goa, they often picture beaches, parties, and beach shacks. But owning a homehereisaboutsomuchmore.
challenges, so site visits and local knowledgearekey.
3. Goa Is Not Just for Holiday Homes
Prashant is the founder of TPB, a boutique real estate consultancy in Goa, focussing on ultra luxury homes. He moved to Goa from Gurgaon in 2019 after his daughter developedbreathingissues.
It’s easy to fall for the image of Goa as an affordable paradise where you can grab a seaside home or a quaint villa for a bargain. The reality is different. Over the past decade, property prices in Goa have steadily increased,drivenbydemandfrom investors, NRIs, and homebuyers seeking a slice of coastal life. In popular areas like North Goa and Panjim, land prices can range from 70,000 to 1,00,000 per square meter—or more for prime locations. Beach-facing properties command a significant premium, and costs only rise if you’re looking for something
Goa is a land of rich history, scenic hinterlands, rivers, wildlife sanctuaries, and Portuguese-era architecture. Depending on where you choose to settle, your home could be tucked away in lush green villages, along a riverfront,oramidstpaddyfields. This diversity makes it crucial to consider your long-term lifestyle goals. Are you looking for peace and privacy, or do you want easy access to the buzz of coastal nightlife? Do you prefer being close to Panjim for schools and hospitals, or is rural serenity more your style? Keep in mind that infrastructurevarieswidelyacross districts. Some areas suffer from poor road connectivity, erratic electricity, or water supply
A common misconception is that buying property in Goa is only for vacations or occasional getaways. Many buyers view it as a secondary home, a place to “escape to.” However, Goa is increasinglybecomingaplacefor full-time living. Its laid-back lifestyle, growing employment opportunities in tourism, IT, and hospitality, plus improving connectivity, make it a viable option for permanent residence. Especially among nomadic entrepreneurs who can work from anywhere.
Thatsaid,ifyourplanistorentthe property out when you’re not using it, don’t underestimate the complexities involved in property management, tourism fluctuation and enhanced competition. Not all properties are ideal for longterm stays or short term rentals, andunderstandingthesenuances can save you from a costly mistake.
OwningahomeinGoaisadream for many, but it requires clear expectations and careful planning. Approach it with the right knowledge, and your Goan home will be an asset, not a liability.
HEALTH TIPS
COCONUT WISDOM: EVERYDAY HEALTH HACKS FROM GOA’S FAVORITE FRUIT
In Goa, the coconut is more than just a tree — it is a symbol of culture, cuisine, and care. Every household, from the bustling lanes of Panaji to the serene villages of South Goa, relies on this humble fruit in ways both traditional and modern. While mostarefamiliarwithcoconutoil pulling, the real magic lies in its wide spectrum of everyday health benefits, ranging from hydrationtoimmunity.
HydrationtheNaturalWay
Fresh coconut water is often called “nature’s sports drink,” and for good reason. Rich in electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and sodium, it replenishes the body far more effectively than sugar-laden packaged drinks. For Goans, it is a cooling antidote to the state’s humid climate, helping prevent dehydration, heat strokes, and fatigue. A daily glass of tender coconut water not only quenches thirst but also gently detoxifies the body, keeping kidneys and urinary health in check.
Skin Care Straight from the Tree
Generations of Goans have relied on coconut oil as a natural moisturizer, long before luxury brandsbeganbottlingit.Itsantiinflammatory and antibacterial properties make it ideal for soothing sunburns, healing minor cuts, and reducing skin irritation
— issues common in coastal living. Massaging the skin with cold-pressed virgin coconut oil locks in moisture, slows aging by reducing oxidative stress, and leaves the skin glowing with a naturalsheen.
DigestionandGutHealth
Coconut is also a digestive ally. The medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in coconut oil are easily absorbedbythebodyandhelpin improving gut flora. Adding
1.
Morning Refresher
grated coconut to curries or enjoying coconut chutneys not only enhances flavor but aids smoother digestion. Sol kadhi, a Goan staple made with kokum and coconut milk, is more than just a palate cleanser — it is a naturalprobioticdrinkthatcalms acidity, aids bowel movement, andsupportsgutimmunity.
BoostingImmunityNaturally
The lauric acid present in coconut oil is known for its
Start your day with a glass of tender coconut water for instant hydration and natural detox.
2. Natural Skin Soother
Apply cold-pressed coconut oil at night to calm sunburns, soften skin, and reduce fine lines.
3. Post-Meal Balance
Sip on sol kadhi (kokum + coconut milk) after heavy meals to aid digestion and cool acidity.
4. Hair Strengthener
Warm coconut oil massage once a week nourishes roots, prevents dandruff, and boosts shine.
5. Immunity Booster
Add a spoon of virgin coconut oil to your curries or soups, lauric acid helps fight infections.
antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Regular consumption, in moderation, helps strengthen the immune system, making the body more resilient against common infections. During seasonal shifts, when colds and fevers are frequent, incorporating coconut in meals — whether as milk, chutneys, or oil — provides a gentleyeteffectiveshieldforthe body.
AFruitofWholesomeLiving
Coconut’s versatility makes it one of the few natural resources that can be seamlessly integrated into daily life. From hydrating your mornings with coconut water to nourishing your skin before bedtime, it embodies the Goan way of living — simple, natural,andeffective. In a world that constantly chases expensive health trends, Goa’s favorite fruit reminds us that sometimes the best solutions are rooted in tradition. Coconut wisdom is timeless, and perhaps the most valuable tip of all is to never underestimate the power of what grows right in our own backyard.
Join the circle of Goa’s most celebrated personalities and premium brands.
