Overview
- The three-day monsoon session opened Monday and will formally table the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026 for debate.
- The proposed law prescribes severe penalties for forced or fraudulent conversions, including possible life imprisonment, minimum fines of Rs 50,000 and up to Rs 5 lakh in victim compensation.
- Opposition parties and some independent MLAs have warned the bill could inflame communal tensions and urged the government to reconsider tabling it.
- The packed agenda compresses 15 bills and 883 assembly questions into three days and is expected to include a Goa Prison Bill that would make illegal mobile-phone possession in jails a cognisable offence with higher penalties.
- A large Marathi language march of about 5,000 people is planned at the assembly and the session will test whether the small opposition can coordinate effective challenges to the BJP-led majority now functioning with a 38-member effective strength.