Goa, June 7 -- Goa's prison system is facing a serious overcrowding crisis, with the India Justice Report 2025 reporting a jail occupancy rate of 102%. A major contributor to this situation is the large population of undertrial prisoners, many of whom remain incarcerated because they are unable to afford bail or pay court-imposed fines.

The report highlights that 46% of undertrial inmates in Goa have been in jail for 1 to 3 years, a significant increase from 34% in 2022. This trend raises human rights concerns and worsens the strain on correctional infrastructure.

Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme and Its Implementation Challenges

To address this issue, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed Goa and all other states and union t...