log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY MAY 31, 2026 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 343 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 16 GOOD LIFE »PAGE 12 LIVE SMART »PAGE 14 SPORTS »PAGE 8 Rejected me, stay damned! The Fungi Frontier Trade over tea Kemp’s late blitz, double strike sinks India in Bristol Naga Chaitanya moves Delhi HC over cheating claims Discover natural, nutrient-rich oils that enhance flavour, support Corporate struggle of controlling the AC temperature RCB chase historic repeat as Titans hunt second IPL crown The king-size Bollywood ego doesn’t take well to ‘No’ >> SEE PG 2 SMART METERS: GOA’S UNEASY TRANSITION MAGAZINE MAGAZ Anchored ashore: How fishers weather the ban Comedy and cuisine: A celebration of food, community and hope Tobacco crisis looming over the future of youth Union Territory or State: Goa’s existential dilemma 9 11 IN SHORT >> Dissent in Cong over Girish appointment MARGAO: Raising a banner of revolt against the appointment of Girish Chodankar as the new GPCC president, Congress workers confronted South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes at Varca over the abrupt removal of Amit Patkar from the party’s top State post. >> See pg 3 Chaos at RGP meet as Viresh attends PANAJI: The much awaited meeting of the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) top leadership with its MLA Viresh Borkar, the first in weeks since turmoil hit the outfit leading to the resignation of its president Manoj Parab, turned chaotic but remained inconclusive. >> See pg 3 TMC secy Abhishek attacked with stones KOLKATA: Scores of people hurled stones, eggs and abuses at TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who escaped the mob wearing a cricket helmet and helped by aides on Saturday in Sonarpur town of West Bengal. ISI-underworld terror module busted NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have dismantled an ISI-linked terror module, arresting nine suspected operatives planning attacks on vital installations in the capital, seizing arms and explosives. Siddharth is bringing medicinal mushrooms into India’s wellness mainstream Here’s how the modern-day kitty party is more about finance than social fun Vice President exhorts Goa to lead the blue revolution SAWANT SAYS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IS ALIGNED WITH BROADER NATIONAL GOAL OF BUILDING DEVELOPED INDIA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As Goa celebrated its Statehood day on Saturday, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan called on the coastal State to position itself at the forefront of India’s emerging blue economy while hailing that Goa’s unique blend of natural resources, cultural heritage and environmental consciousness placed it in a position to become a national model for sustainable development. Addressing the Statehood Day celebrations at Kala Academy, Radhakrishnan said the challenge before governments was to pursue economic growth without undermining ecological balance, and argued that Goa was particularly suited to demonstrate how the two could coexist. “The future belongs to economies that can grow while preserving ecological CELEBRATING GOA: Vice President of India C P Radhakrishnan, Governor P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, ministers, and other dignitaries at the Statehood Day function at Kala Academy on Saturday. (More photos on page 5)   Narayan Pissurlenkar balance, and Goa can emerge as a national model for sustainable coastal development,” he said. The official function also attended by Governor P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, ministers and others. The VP pointed to Goa’s long coastline, marine wealth and fishing sector as prime strengths to drive growth in the years ahead through the blue economy, adding he was en- Tech snag hits CUET-UG exam, over 3,700 students walk out NTA SEEKS REPORT, ANNOUNCES RE-TEST PTI NEW DELHI More than 3,700 CUET (UG) 2026 candidates left their examination centres after a technical glitch delayed the start of Shift 1 of the test on Saturday at some centres. The National Testing Agency, however, said these candidates will be given a one-time opportunity to reappear for the entrance exam for undergraduate admissions. Following the disruption, examination timings were revised at the affected centres and “most candidates (about 95 per cent) were able to complete their exam once it resumed”, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said. “Most candidates were able to complete their exam once it resumed. We understand that 3,765 candidates who were present and had completed biometric registration chose to leave before the exam could restart,” the NTA said on X. “For these candidates, NTA will hold a rescheduled examination as a one-time meas- Students wait to appear in Common University Entrance Test outside a centre in Noida on Saturday. ure,” it added. The new date and details will be announced separately, the agency said. It also said that the technical service provider, TCS iON, “has been asked to conduct a root-cause analysis and submit its report immediately” after the glitch delayed the commencement of the examination at some centres. “Earlier today, some centres faced a technical glitch that delayed the start of Shift 1. The technical service provider, TCS iON, has been asked to submit its report immediately,” the agency said. “We know that today's unfortunate technical disruption caused distress for some CUET (UG) 2026 candidates. Candidates who did their biometric registration and were present at their examination centres today (i.e., 30.05.2026 in Shift-I), but couldn't complete their examination due to this technical glitch, will get another opportunity for examination,” the NTA said on X. couraged by the State’s efforts to explore opportunities in the sector while maintaining its environmental commitments. Radhakrishnan stressed that economic progress must benefit all sections of society No plan to make cow a national animal or ban slaughter: Govt PTI NEW DELHI There is currently no proposal under the Centre's consideration to declare the cow the national animal or impose a nationwide ban on cow slaughter, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said, noting that such demands continue to be raised by various groups. Meghwal noted that laws relating to cow slaughter vary across States and decisions are often taken based on local considerations. Responding to a question on calls for granting the cow national animal status and prohibiting cow slaughter across the country, Meghwal, in an interview, said such representations are regularly made to MPs and the government. "Various organisations keep working on these issues and approach MPs as well. People make representations saying such a measure should be taken," he said. However, the minister said no such proposal is presently under consideration by the Union Cabinet. and warned against measuring development solely through infrastructure or financial indicators. He further described the protection of Goa’s rivers, forests, coastline and cultural heritage as a responsibility that extended beyond the State’s borders. “Goa is admired not only for its beauty but also for the harmony between people and nature. Preserving this balance is a national imperative," he said. In his address, Sawant attributed Goa’s development trajectory to the support extended by the Centre and the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying major investments in infrastructure and public services were reshaping the State’s future. “The infrastructure being created today has been planned to benefit Goa for the >Continued on P6 Balance development with ecology, PM tells CM on Statehood Day THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that Goa’s future growth must be guided by ecological balance, sustainability and preservation of its unique cultural identity, while continuing on the path of rapid development and infrastructure expansion. In a message on Goa Statehood Day addressed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Modi said the State has the potential to emerge as a global model by combining economic progress with environmental conservation and cultural preservation. He underlined that Goa’s development should remain sensitive to local communities and rooted in sustainable practices. The Prime Minister noted that Goa’s ecological wealth, biodiversity, coastline and rich cultural heritage are among its greatest strengths and must be safeguarded even as the State pursues new opportunities in tourism, infrastructure, innovation and the blue economy. Expressing confidence in Goa’s future, Modi said the PM’S MANTRA FOR GOA „„Goa can be a global model „„Growth must be sustainable „„Protect culture, environment „„Boost tourism, startups, innovation „„Focus on jobs, connectivity „„Youth will drive the future State can play a significant role in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. He highlighted the scope for growth in eco-tourism, digital innovation, startups, skill development, wellness tourism and green infrastructure. Modi said the Centre has been extending strong support for Goa’s development, including approval of infrastructure projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore in the past >Continued on P6 No e-challans via personal phones, Centre tells States MANDATES USE OF ONLY CERTIFIED DEVICES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed all States and Union Territories to ensure that electronic traffic challans are issued only through approved enforcement devices, a move that comes amid Goa Police’s admission that traffic personnel have been using personal mobile phones to record violations and generate fines. In a communication dated May 25, 2026, addressed to Chief Secretaries across the country, the Ministry said it had come to its notice that e-challans were being issued in certain cases using personal mobile phones. It reminded authorities that enforcement action must be carried out strictly through certified electronic enforcement devices as prescribed under law. The advisory assumes sig- MINISTRY’S COMMUNICATION TO STATES „„Cites Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules „„Enforcement action through certified electronic enforcement devices „„Approved devices include speed cameras, CCTV cameras, speed guns, body-worn cameras, dashboard cameras, ANPR systems and weighin-motion technology „„Personal mobile phones not included in approved list „„Body-worn, dashboard cameras can be used only in specified situations and with safeguards „„Officials using bodyworn cameras must inform offenders of interaction being recorded „„Communication dated May 25, 2026 sent to Chief Secretaries across the country nificance in Goa, where the State’s traffic enforcement practices have come under the spotlight after police, officially, acknowledged that its personnel routinely used their personal mobile phones to photograph traffic violations. The disclosure had triggered questions over the legality of challans generated through devices that do not feature among the >Continued on P6 Govt forms DRS authority to Tired of govt red tape? Speak to ‘Samadhan Didi’! INSIDE THE CHATBOT: HOW IT WORKS roll out bottle return system PTI VESTED WITH POWERS TO OPERATIONALISE SCHEME THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has constituted the Goa Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) Authority to oversee the implementation of the State's ambitious deposit-return mechanism for tackling non-biodegradable waste and improving recycling rates. The authority, constituted by the Department of Environment and Climate Change under provisions of the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2026, will be responsible for the overall management, implementation and monitoring of DRS pan-Goa. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anthony de Sa, IAS, has been appointed Chairman of the authority. The body also includes chartered accountant Vinesh Pikale and senior representatives from Commercial Taxes, Excise, Legal Metrology, Municipal Administration, Panchayats, Tourism, the Goa Waste Management Corporation, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and the Goa Coastal and Environment Management Society, whereas the Project Director of GCEMS will serve as Member Convenor. As per the notification, the authority has been vested with wide-ranging powers to operationalise the scheme, which is expected to introduce a refundable deposit on specified non-biodegradable products and packaging. Consumers will be able to >Continued on P6 NEW DELHI he Centre on Saturday unveiled an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbot to help citizens raise grievances against government departments online. Launching the chatbot named ''Samadhan Didi'' here, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh termed it as “democratisation of the public grievance mechanism” in the nation showcasing the government's unwavering commitment to enhance ease of using public services for citizens. The chatbot marks a significant step towards making public grievance redressal T „„Makes public grievance redressal simpler, easier to access, multilingual „„Citizens can file complaints by speaking in their language „„Users do not need to know the correct ministry, dept, category, or subcategory „„Understands the issue described in simple words „„Asks relevant followup questions for clarity „„Automatically identifies correct ministry, complaint category „„Grievance forwarded to appropriate authority automatically simpler, more accessible and truly multilingual, he said. A citizen can now lodge a grievance simply by speaking, in their own language, describing the concern in plain words '' without needing to know which ministry/department, category or sub-category it belongs to, Singh said. The chatbot understands the concern, asks a few relevant clarifying questions, automatically identifies the appropriate ministry, department, category and sub-cat- egory, and files the grievance with the correct authority, the minister said. Developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with Bhashini (an AI powered tool), the chatbot has been developed within secure government infrastructure, ensuring data privacy. At the launch event, the chatbot was demonstrated live and tested in different Indian languages. Singh said that a citizen-centric approach has remained at the core of governance reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Underscoring the transformative role of technology in public admin, the minister said that Artificial Intelligence is driving the democratisation of grievance redressal -- making it more accessible, responsive and efficient -- and that AI-enabled tools are strengthening citizen engagement.