Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: India and Russia underscored the steady strength of their relationship as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. The meeting took place ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled visit to India for the 23rd Annual Summit, with both sides reviewing progress on several ongoing initiatives. Jaishankar noted that regular engagements between the two countries have played a significant role in advancing cooperation. He highlighted that multiple agreements and collaborative projects are currently under discussion across diverse sectors, adding that their finalisation would further deepen the strategic partnership. He emphasised that…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite long-pending clearances for several key water projects, placing special emphasis on the Kalasa–Banduri Nala projects under the Mahadayi basin. In a detailed letter sent on Monday, the Chief Minister noted that although the Central Water Commission and the Ministry of Jal Shakti had cleared the Kalasa–Banduri proposals in December 2022, the projects remain stuck as the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is yet to grant the crucial Forest and Wildlife clearances. Siddaramaiah said the prolonged delay is severely impacting the drinking…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: In a fresh Extraordinary Notification, the Goa government has clarified that minimum land rates will not apply to plots conveyed by the Housing Board. Further, for Communidade plots up to 400 sq. meters, the land rates will be 50% lower than the notified rates. This benefit will apply only in five talukas: Tiswadi, Pernem, Mormugao, Salcete, and Bardez. The move aims to provide relief to landowners and encourage formal land transactions in the state.

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Goa has become the first state in India to introduce dedicated financial assistance for persons with benchmark disabilities requiring intensive support with the launch of the High-Support Disability Scheme. Under the initiative, eligible beneficiaries will receive a one-time grant of Rs 40,000, which can be utilised over a period of five years. Speaking at the launch, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai said the scheme aims to provide meaningful assistance to individuals who need high levels of support. “Beneficiaries have full discretion to use the aid according to their requirements,” he added. The funds can be…

“The first critical question is how such a group moved so freely through an apartment block. Many buildings in Goa still operate with outdated or lax security measures. Some do not have functional CCTV. Others allow unrestricted access to visitors without verification. Basic systems that are standard in other urban centres remain optional here. This incident shows that these gaps are not harmless. They create openings that well-organised groups can exploit easily. The second issue is response time. Police rushed to the site after the crime, and multiple teams were deployed to track the suspects. But the fact remains that…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa will take up a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on January 4, 2026, seeking a comprehensive socio-economic and health survey of senior citizens across the State. The petition, filed by advocate Moses Pinto, urges the State government to conduct a detailed survey to gather accurate data on the elderly population, which could serve as the basis for well-informed welfare policies. Pinto, who is also a caregiver for his elderly father, had filed the PIL two months ago, emphasizing the need for a scientific study to assess the demographic, health, and social…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Goa’s 31st iron ore e-auction last week witnessed robust participation, with almost the entire 7.50 lakh metric tonnes (MT) on offer being sold, generating Rs 136.10 crore for the State treasury. According to the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), 7.50 lakh MT of iron ore—comprising fines, lumps, run-of-mine ore, and tailings—was listed for bidding on November 13 and 14. Of this, 7.48 lakh MT was successfully purchased by buyers. The material was stored across multiple lease sites, including Dharbandora, Codli, Mayem, Sirigao, Pale, and Vagus. DMG Director Narayan Gad confirmed the strong turnout at the…