Liberation of Goa

Why in news?

• 19^th December 2020 marks the 59^th anniversary of Goan liberation.

About Liberation of Goa:

• The Liberation of Goa was the process in which the Republic of India annexed the former Portuguese Indian territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, starting with the armed action carried out by the Indian Armed Forces in December 1961, ending 451 years of rule by Portugal over its remaining exclaves in India.
• The "armed action" was code named Operation Vijay by the Indian Armed Forces.
• It involved air, sea and land strikes for over 36 hours, and was a decisive victory for India,
• The engagement lasted two days, and twenty-two Indians and thirty Portuguese were killed in the fighting.
• It took place seven years after the liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (1954) which was led by pro-Indian volunteer groups.
• The annexation by military happened after all diplomatic efforts failed due to the refusal of authoritarian government of Portugal under Prime Minister Antonio Salazar.

Prelims Question

Which of the following events happened the earliest in the history of post independence India?
(a)Cession of Pondicherry 
(b)Liberation of Goa
(c)Nationalisation of Air India
(d)Sino-Indian War

Answer to prelims question