Goa is India's smallest state by area (3,702 sq km) and the fourth smallest by population. State day is observed on 19th December. Goa is visited by large numbers of international (during winter) and domestic tourists (during summer) each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture (Bom Jesus Basilica, and churches and convents of Old Goa). Rice with fish curry (xit kodi in Konkani) is the staple diet in Goa and a rich egg-based, multi-layered sweet dish known as bebinca is a favorite at Christmas. The most popular alcoholic beverage in Goa is feni. Cashew feni is made from the fermentation of the fruit of the cashew tree, while coconut feni is made from the sap of toddy palms. Goa also has a rich wine culture.
Education Status
According to the Census 2011, Goa has a literacy rate of 87.40% (male literacy rate 92.81% and female literacy rate 81.84%).
All schools come under the Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education whose syllabus is prescribed by the state education department. After ten years of schooling, students join a Higher Secondary school, which offers courses in popular streams such as Science, Arts, Law and Commerce. A student may also opt for a course in vocational studies. Additionally, they may join three-year diploma courses. Two years of college is followed by a professional degree programme.
Goa University, the sole university in Goa, is located in Taleigão and most Goan colleges are affiliated to it. There are five engineering colleges and one medical college in the state. Goa Engineering College and National Institute of Technology Goa are government funded colleges. Goa Medical College provides medical training and is the largest hospital in Goa. There are also many colleges offering pharmacy, architecture and dentistry along with numerous private colleges offering law, arts, commerce and science and there are two National Oceanographic Science related centers: The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (Vasco da Gama) and The National Institute of Oceanography (Dona Paul). In addition to the engineering colleges, there are government polytechnic institutions in Panaji, Bicholim and Curchorem and aided institutions like Father Agnel Polytechnic in Verna and the Institute of Shipbuilding Technology in Vasco da Gama which impart technical and vocational training