Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government has formally introduced a 4% reservation in Group C jobs for meritorious sportspersons, making it binding on all departments to implement the quota in direct recruitment.
According to a government circular, the reservation will be applied while ensuring that the overall quota, including the sports category, does not exceed 50% of available vacancies.
The decision is in line with the Goa Sports Policy 2009 and delivers on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s budget assurance that athletes excelling at national and international levels would be rewarded with government employment. The move also comes in the backdrop of Goa’s encouraging performance at the National Games, where the state had pledged stronger institutional support for medal winners.
Earlier, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs had proposed a scheme to extend jobs across departments to athletes who secured medals. The Finance Department had raised concerns over recruitment rules and qualifications, prompting amendments to define eligibility criteria, direct recruitment norms, and promotion avenues for sportspersons under the new quota.
With this notification, the government aims to institutionalise recognition and provide long-term career support to Goan athletes.
