Goa Liberation Day

• 21 Dec 2020

Why in News

The Prime Minister of India greeted the people of Goa on Goa Liberation Day, which falls on 19^th December every year.

Key Points

• The day marks the occasion when the Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961 from 450 years of Portuguese rule.
  
  • The Portuguese colonised several parts of India in 1510 but by the end of the 19^th-century Portuguese colonies in India were limited to Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Anjediva Island (a part of Goa).
  • As India gained independence on 15^th August, 1947, it requested the Portuguese to cede their territories but they refused.
• The Goa liberation movement started off with small scale revolts, but reached its peak between 1940 to 1960.
• In 1961, after the failure of diplomatic efforts with Portuguese, the Indian Government launched Operation Vijay and annexed Daman and Diu and Goa with the Indian mainland on 19^th December.
  
  • On 30^th May 1987, the territory was split and Goa was formed. Daman and Diu remained a Union Territory.
  • Hence, 30^th May is celebrated as the Statehood Day of Goa.

Goa

• It is located on the southwestern coast of India within the region known as the Konkan, and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats.
• Capital: Panji.
• Official Language: Konkani.
  
  • Konkani is one of the 22 languages from the Eight Schedule.
  • It was added in the list along with Manipuri and Nepali by the 71^st Amendment Act of 1992.
• Borders: It is surrounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its western coast.
• Geography:
  
  • The highest point of Goa is Sonsogor.
  • Goa's seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi (also called Mhadei), Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal, Talpona and the Sal.
  • Most of Goa's soil cover is made up of laterites.
• Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks:
  
  • Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
  • Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary
  • Mollem National Park

Source: PIB