Collective Efforts to Drive Innovation, Sustainability, and Growth in Mineral & Mining Sector: Mines Secretary

The Geological Survey of India charts an extensive roadmap with 1,065 scientific programmes including 402 Mineral Development and 167 Mineral Discovery projects and a 16% Jump in Critical Mineral Projects

Bhubaneswar (India CSR): The 64th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) convened at the State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. The event was chaired by V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Chairman CGPB. Asit Saha, Director General, GSI and Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, were the other dignitaries gracing the occasion.

The event brought together key stakeholders from exploration, research, and mining sectors to discuss advancements in geosciences, mineral exploration strategies, and critical challenges. Key discussions focused on mineral resource augmentation, clean energy initiatives, geohazard management, and sustainable development, emphasizing a collaborative approach to emerging priorities.

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The proposed Annual Programme of GSI for the ensuing Field Season year 2025-26 was placed before the Board for discussion. For the upcoming year 2025-26, GSI has formulated about 1065 scientific programs, including 402 Mineral Development projects (G2; G3; G4; and Offshore Explorations) that can generate auctionable mineral blocks in the near future. 167 Mineral Discovery Projects (RMT; Research Project; C-MAP; GT; MPA; Multispectral/Hyperspectral projects) have the potential to generate promising areas for future exploration in the G4 stage. Within the exploration activity, a significant focus has been placed on critical mineral exploration, with 227 dedicated projects targeting strategically important mineral commodities such as REE, RM, graphite, lithium, vanadium, and PGE, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous year. The field season programme of GSI for FS 2025-26 includes 25% of investigations on critical minerals, which entails that out of the total budget of GSI, about 300 crores will be spent on critical mineral exploration and investigation.

In addition, GSI has outlined 141 projects under Natural Hazard Studies, Public Good Geoscience, and Fundamental Geoscience for 2025-26. These include projects on landslides, geotechnical studies, polar & glaciology research, climate change, and environmental studies, as well as initiatives in fundamental geoscience. This comprehensive approach reflects GSI’s commitment to disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and scientific innovation.

GSI has initiated 65 geoinformatics projects leveraging cutting-edge AI/ML modeling, legacy data integration, and the deployment of emerging technologies like Magnetotelluric & Heliborn survey to enhance exploration efficiency. A key highlight of the event was the announcement of the Mineral Hunt Techniques Hackathon winners, showcasing start-ups and unicorns employing AI/ML-driven prospectivity analysis to accelerate target, identification of mineral deposit discovery.

Furthermore, several publications, including on the Geology and Mineral Resources of Jharkhand and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and a Geology and Mineral Resource Map of the North Eastern Region were released.

In his address at the 64th CGPB meeting, V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines & Chairman, CGPB, emphasized the platform’s vital role in fostering collaboration and advancing geosciences. He outlined key initiatives by the Ministry of Mines, aligned with two significant recent budgetary announcements, on Critical Mineral Mission and Offshore Mining.

Rao highlighted the successful auctioning of 24 critical mineral blocks so far in the year 2024-25 and launch of India’s first-ever auction of 13 offshore mineral blocks. He encouraged exploration agencies to utilize NMET funding to enhance mineral exploration efforts & execution of R&D projects. Shri Rao also stressed the utilization of legacy geological data available in the NGDR portal and underscored new initiatives to issue more exploration licenses, enabling private agencies to contribute to the mineral exploration landscape.

In the technical session of the meeting, the Hackathon winners—namely, the first prize-winning team AMD, the second prize-winning team GSI, and the third prize-winning team IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, presented their algorithms and methodologies for targeting critical minerals using AI/ML tools. These methodologies will be of immense use to GSI in their mineral exploration work by intensive use of AI/ML in the mineral exploration programme. Additionally, the session had presentations on recent changes in guidelines for forest clearance by MoEFCC and recent developments in NGDR.

In the presence of senior officials, V.L. Kantha Rao, inaugurated an Exhibition showcasing various exhibits on diverse themes of geoscience, in which GSI, PSUs, private exploration agencies and startups showcased their achievements.

The event concluded on an inspiring note, emphasizing the importance of progress, innovation, and a shared responsibility to shape a brighter future for generations to come.

The Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB)

The Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) is an important platform of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines wherein the Annual Field Season Program (FSP) of GSI is placed for discussion and to avoid duplication of work. The members of CGPB and other stakeholders like State Governments, Central/ State Government Mineral Exploration Agencies, PSUs and Private Entrepreneurs place their requests for collaborative work with GSI.

Based on the priorities set by the Government of India and the importance and urgency of proposals presented by the members and stakeholders, the Annual Programme of GSI for survey & mapping, exploration, Research and Development, multidisciplinary catering to societal projects and training & capacity building programmes during the forthcoming financial year is given a final shape after due discussion and deliberations held at the topmost level at CGPB meeting, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India.

The Ministry of Mines, Government of India, vide notification dated 18th August 2023, had revamped/ reconstituted the CGPB Committee into 12 theme-based groups. The main objective of this reconstitution is to enable the States and other Stakeholders to accrue benefit from wider participation and interaction with GSI to further their activities and avoid duplication. It was felt that it would provide a forum for better coordination between Central and State level stakeholders by encouraging the regular functioning of State Geological Programming Boards (SGPB), set up by the State Governments. It was decided that the 12 Committees for the various sub-sectors would comprise members and invitees from the concerned States and Agencies engaged in activities in the field relevant to that particular sector and present their recommendations to the CGPB.

About the Geological Survey of India

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways. Over the years, GSI has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute. Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismo-tectonic study and carrying out fundamental research.

GSI’s chief role includes providing objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and geoscientific information of all kinds, with a focus on policy making decisions, commercial and socio-economic needs. GSI also emphasizes on systematic documentation of all geological processes both surface and subsurface, of India and its offshore areas. The organization carries out this work through geological, geophysical, & geochemical surveys using the latest does so by using the latest and most cost-effective techniques and methodologies.

GSI’s core competence in survey and mapping is continuously enhanced through accretion, management, coordination and utilization of spatial databases (including those acquired through remote sensing). It functions as a ‘Repository’ for the purpose and uses the latest computer-based technologies for dissemination of geoscientific information and spatial data, through cooperation and collaboration with other stakeholders in the Geo-informatics sector.

GSI, headquartered in Kolkata, has six regional offices located in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata and state unit offices in almost all states of the country. GSI is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines.

(India CSR)