Some tense moments for the Digambar Kamat government: economic uncertainty due to fear of ban on iron ore exports, protests over medium of instruction in schools and 50 year celebrations of liberation marked 2011 for Goa.
As the State readies to welcome several thousand tourists to its beaches to ring in the New Year, the political atmosphere is also hotting up in the run-up to the Assembly elections in 2012.
The Congress government has begun its election campaign, although subtly. The party President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, was in Goa, two days before the December 19 Liberation Day to address the rally.
Also, Mr Kamat doled out sops in the form of schemes, bonus for government employees and other things.
50 years of liberation
The State also celebrated its 50 years of liberation from Portuguese rule. While the festivities are still continuing, the industry is worried about the Justice M B Shah Commission report, which has initially indicated total ban on iron ore exports.
The mining industry, which contributes more than Rs 1,000 crore to the state exchequer and provides employment for several thousands in seven talukas, has been the backbone of the economy.
There are fears that the economy will collapse once the ban is imposed.
The Maharashtra Governor, Mr K. Sankaranarayanan, took additional charge of the post in Goa after Mr S.S. Sidhu's term ended.
English medium
Another issue that grabbed the headlines was the government's nod to English as the medium of instruction in state-aided schools from the current academic year, a decision that led to protests as some groups claimed it would spell doom for Konkani and Marathi medium schools.
Two persons were killed in May after a factory was set on fire by irate locals at Balli village during a tribals' agitation for long-pending demands, including reservation in government jobs.
From September onwards, Goa witnessed mud slinging between political rivals on the illegal mining issue.
Mr Kamat and some of his ministers are accused of indulging in the activity.
PAC report
The report of the leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar-led Public Accounts Committee was supposed to be explosive for the State government.
But the Congress managed to delay it without bringing it to the floor of the House. The dangling sword of Justice Shah Commission, however, continues to threaten the government. Figures ranging from Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 10,000 crore are being discussed in illegal mining trade.
Political parties were also busy engineering their own combinations and alliances.
The Congress and the NCP are planning to get into pre-poll alliance while the regional Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party is drifting between the Congress and the BJP.
The final combinations are yet to be announced.
Regional Plan
A major challenge before the Kamat government is to convince people to accept the Regional Plan 2021, a futuristic land use plan. Civil society members, NGOs and village groups are claiming that the plan was tampered with and agriculture land was converted into settlement zones.
The government, which was supposed to implement the plan from the New Year, has now put it on hold.
The annual International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in November but there was some controversy over the dates after which it was decided that from next year the itinerary will not clash with the feast of St Francis Xavier.