{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Short description|District in Goa, India}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kushavati district | settlement_type = District of Goa | image_map = Kushavati_district.png | map_caption = Kushavati district in Goa state | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|}} Goa | established_title = Established | established_date = 31 December 2025 | seat_type = Headquarters | seat = Quepem | parts_type = Talukas | parts_style = para | p1 = {{olist |Quepem |Sanguem |Dharbandora |Canacona}} | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +05:30 | registration_plate = GA }}
'''Kushavati district''' is an administrative district in the Indian state of Goa. It was split from South Goa district on 31 December 2025 to become Goa's third district, with its headquarters to be located at Quepem.<ref name=law>{{cite news |date=31 December 2025 |title= Notification 16/29/1/2023-Rev-I/3259 |url=https://goaprintingpress.gov.in/downloads/2526/2526-39-SI-EOG-2.pdf |access-date=3 January 2026 |newspaper=Official Gazette |series=Series I No. 39 |issue=2 (Extroardinary) |publisher=Government of Goa}}</ref>
The district is named after the Kushavati River, an ancient river with historical and cultural significance in southern Goa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Goa named its new district Kushavati |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/why-did-goa-name-its-new-district-kushavati-10449241/ |work=The Indian Express |date=1 January 2026 |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
== History == The proposal to create a third district in Goa had been under consideration for several years prior to its formal notification, as part of efforts to decentralise administration and improve governance in the southern and interior regions of the state.<ref>{{cite news |title=Third district in Goa was planned long before announcement |url=https://navhindtimes.in/new-year-gift-govt-notifies-goas-third-district-kushavati/ |work=The Navhind Times |date=1 January 2026 |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> In 2023, the Government of Goa constituted committees to study the feasibility, boundaries and administrative implications of carving out a new district from South Goa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Committees examined feasibility of third district |url=https://www.prudentmedia.in/politics/cm-announces-creation-of-third-district-kushavati/35340.html |work=Prudent Media Goa |date=31 December 2025 |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
Kushavati district was officially notified on 31 December 2025, with Quepem designated as its administrative headquarters. Until full administrative infrastructure is established, interim arrangements remain under the South Goa district administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Government notifies Kushavati as Goa’s third district |url=https://navhindtimes.in/new-year-gift-govt-notifies-goas-third-district-kushavati/ |work=The Navhind Times |date=1 January 2026 |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Goa gets its third district, Kushavati |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goa-gets-its-3rd-district-kushavati-named-after-ancient-river-10143659 |work=NDTV |date=31 December 2025 |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
== Administration == The district comprises four talukas—Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora and Canacona—which were previously part of South Goa district.<ref>{{cite news |title=Talukas included in Kushavati district |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goa-gets-its-3rd-district-kushavati-named-after-ancient-river-10143659 |work=NDTV |date=31 December 2025 |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
== Demographics == As Kushavati district was formed after the 2011 Census of India, official district-level demographic statistics are yet to be published. Demographic characteristics are therefore derived from census data of the constituent talukas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census of India 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/ |publisher=Government of India |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> The district has about 27 % tribal population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Third district in Goa to be named as Kushavati CM |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/12/31/third-district-in-goa-to-be-named-as-kushavati-cm.html |access-date=3 January 2026 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref>
=== Religion === {{Pie chart |thumb = right |caption = Religion in Kushavati district (derived from 2011 Census) |label1 = Hinduism |value1 = 66.08 |color1 = darkorange |label2 = Christianity |value2 = 26.68 |color2 = dodgerblue |label3 = Islam |value3 = 6.45 |color3 = green |label4 = Others |value4 = 0.79 |color4 = grey }}
According to derived data from the 2011 Census of India, Hinduism is the majority religion in Kushavati district, accounting for approximately 66.08% of the population. Christianity constitutes about 26.68%, while Islam accounts for 6.45%. Other religions together form about 0.79% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |title=C-1 Population by Religious Community – Goa |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW30C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=Census of India |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
=== Language === Konkani is the predominant and official language spoken across Kushavati district.<ref>{{cite web |title=Languages of Goa |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/language/state/30-goa.html |publisher=Census 2011 India |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
Marathi, Hindi, Kannada and English are also spoken by sections of the population, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Goa language demographics |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/language/state/30-goa.html |publisher=Census 2011 India |access-date=3 January 2026}}</ref>
== See also == * Districts of Goa * South Goa district
== References == {{reflist}}
{{coord missing|Goa}}
Category:Districts of Goa Category:2025 establishments in Goa Category:States and territories established in 2025