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Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the land earmarked for the IIT project was acquired long ago during the GEC expansion, and the Katamgal Dada site will not be touched • SCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar said SCERT has prepared 41 textbooks for Classes 1-8 under NEP 2020 guidelines; "150 teachers & academicians were involved in compiling age appropriate content with the focus of curricular goals & competency; review committee will soon be constituted to proofread all 41 textbooks," Shetgaonkar • Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the Electricity Department has corrected 7.5 lakh power bills so far and aims to complete the correction of all erroneous bills within a year. He added that excess load charges and penalties wrongly collected from consumers will be adjusted in future electricity bills. • The High Court has appointed a child psychologist to counsel four traumatised children rescued in a child-begging case in Goa. The psychologist will also conduct family reintegration sessions and submit a report to the court on July 6. • Hemant Shirodkar and Eknath Gawas, accused in the Taleigao assault case, were granted bail by the Mapusa JMFC Court. Panaji Police have booked four persons for attempt to murder after a 21-year-old youth was allegedly attacked with an iron rod and wooden stick over previous enmity. • Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said Goa has recorded a decline in road accidents following improvements at accident black spots and stricter road safety measures. He said the ongoing awareness campaign will continue till July 15, after which the government will decide on installing CCTV cameras at key junctions. • Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the Goa government's decision on the Taxi Policy has been deferred as elections are approaching. He said this is not the right time to take a tough decision and noted that the proposed Digital Taxi Policy does not yet have broad consensus. The issue will be revisited after the elections. • Goa recorded 19.88 lakh tourist arrivals by rail between January and May 2026, marking a 6.8% increase over the same period last year, according to Goa Tourism. • The Centre told the Supreme Court that India's 20% ethanol blending programme is still an ongoing experiment, with clearer results expected by next year. The government said there is no conclusive evidence that E20 fuel damages vehicles and reaffirmed that the policy will continue, citing benefits for energy security, farmers, and the environment. Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the land earmarked for the IIT project was acquired long ago during the GEC expansion, and the Katamgal Dada site will not be touched • SCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar said SCERT has prepared 41 textbooks for Classes 1-8 under NEP 2020 guidelines; "150 teachers & academicians were involved in compiling age appropriate content with the focus of curricular goals & competency; review committee will soon be constituted to proofread all 41 textbooks," Shetgaonkar • Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the Electricity Department has corrected 7.5 lakh power bills so far and aims to complete the correction of all erroneous bills within a year. He added that excess load charges and penalties wrongly collected from consumers will be adjusted in future electricity bills. • The High Court has appointed a child psychologist to counsel four traumatised children rescued in a child-begging case in Goa. The psychologist will also conduct family reintegration sessions and submit a report to the court on July 6. • Hemant Shirodkar and Eknath Gawas, accused in the Taleigao assault case, were granted bail by the Mapusa JMFC Court. Panaji Police have booked four persons for attempt to murder after a 21-year-old youth was allegedly attacked with an iron rod and wooden stick over previous enmity. • Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said Goa has recorded a decline in road accidents following improvements at accident black spots and stricter road safety measures. He said the ongoing awareness campaign will continue till July 15, after which the government will decide on installing CCTV cameras at key junctions. • Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the Goa government's decision on the Taxi Policy has been deferred as elections are approaching. He said this is not the right time to take a tough decision and noted that the proposed Digital Taxi Policy does not yet have broad consensus. The issue will be revisited after the elections. • Goa recorded 19.88 lakh tourist arrivals by rail between January and May 2026, marking a 6.8% increase over the same period last year, according to Goa Tourism. • The Centre told the Supreme Court that India's 20% ethanol blending programme is still an ongoing experiment, with clearer results expected by next year. The government said there is no conclusive evidence that E20 fuel damages vehicles and reaffirmed that the policy will continue, citing benefits for energy security, farmers, and the environment.

CULTURE

Vat Purnima Celebrated Across Goa with Devotion and Tradition

Vat Purnima was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm across Goa, with large numbers of married women participating in traditional r

29th Jun 2026 • Jun 29 • 2 views

Vat Purnima was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm across Goa, with large numbers of married women participating in traditional rituals and prayers.

Women gathered at banyan trees in various parts of the state to offer prayers for the well-being, prosperity, and long life of their husbands. Dressed in traditional attire, they performed sacred rituals, tied holy threads around the banyan tree, and sought blessings for family happiness and prosperity.

Temples and community spaces witnessed a strong turnout as women observed the festival in a deeply spiritual atmosphere. The celebrations reflected the enduring cultural and religious significance of Vat Purnima in Goan society.

Local residents also actively participated, adding to the festive and devotional spirit across several villages and towns.

Vat Purnima is widely observed in Goa and other western Indian states by married Hindu women, symbolizing marital devotion, faith, and prayers for a prosperous family life.

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