“Despite the massive crowd on a Sunday, the queue moved with efficiency and decorum,” says Jessica Annie Singh, a 25-year-old visitor who made her way through the crowd at the Se Cathedral in Old Goa. Amidst the sea of devotees, what caught her attention was the coordination that made navigating the crowd feel well-ordered.

Her feelings reflect those of many who attended the St. Francis Xavier Exposition 2024-2025.

The seamless execution of the grand event was led by Sandip Jacques (53), a seasoned IAS officer and Goa’s Commissioner and Secretary of Revenue and Law. As the Commissioner for the Exposition, he ensured smooth operations and coordination across departments.

Born into a family with a strong medical background, Sandip initially pursued a master’s degree in medical microbiology. However, after a shift in interests, he began studying law until his father-in-law, a police officer, encouraged him to consider the civil services. His suggestion to attempt the civil service exams ultimately changed the course of Sandip’s life.

“I was more inclined towards law at the time, but my father-in-law encouraged me to try the civil services during my final year,” he tells The Better India. By 1997, at just 24, Sandip had passed the exams and joined the Goa Civil Services. His journey from there eventually led him to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), with postings in Andaman, Delhi, and now Goa.

Before entering public administration, he was an accomplished sportsman, competing in football, hockey, and table tennis at the state and national levels. “Sports and education should go hand in hand,” he reflects. “They teach you discipline, teamwork, and resilience qualities that have been essential in my career.”

When the IAS officer was tasked with managing the St Francis Xavier Exposition, he knew he had to devise innovative strategies and approaches. Held once every ten years, the event attracts millions of devotees and tourists to Goa to witness the veneration of the saint’s relics at the Se Cathedral. The 2024-2025 exposition, which ran from November 21 to January 5, drew a record-breaking eight million visitors.

Jessica drew a picture of the meticulous

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