New Delhi: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented the 2026 to 27 state budget in the Goa Legislative Assembly Complex in Porvorim, announcing a series of initiatives aimed at expanding Goa’s Information Technology sector and strengthening its digital economy.
The budget allocates ₹189 crore to the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications sector, reflecting the government’s focus on innovation, digital governance and technology driven growth.
Commenting on the announcements, IT Minister Rohan Khaunte said the budget places strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, job creation, startups and digital connectivity. He added that the investment in technology will help accelerate the state’s digital transformation and support the broader vision of building a developed Goa by 2037.
As part of efforts to improve digital governance, the government will launch a citizen focused Goa Mobile App with an allocation of ₹1 crore. The platform is expected to serve as a single digital interface through which residents can access various government services, helping departments move towards a more paperless and efficient system.
The state has also earmarked ₹4 crore to upgrade the Goa Online Portal, with the aim of improving the delivery of digital public services. An artificial intelligence powered chatbot has already been introduced on the platform to assist users with information and service requests.
To strengthen the startup ecosystem under the Goa Startup Policy 2025, the government has launched four new initiatives. These include the Campus Innovation Scheme, Promotion and Marketing Assistance Scheme, Skill Enhancement Scheme and the Women Entrepreneur Vitality Scheme. A total of ₹10 crore has been allocated for these programmes.
The budget also proposes the development of co working spaces in coastal areas to attract remote workers and digital professionals.
Additionally, the Goa Broadband Network 2.0 project will be launched to improve digital infrastructure. The initiative aims to connect 400 Points of Presence and strengthen broadband connectivity across 165 locations while linking government offices with secure digital networks.
To further support the IT industry, the government will offer annual financial support of ₹5 lakh to twenty IT companies that employ local talent, with ₹1 crore set aside for the scheme.
