India Launches Global Geoscience Seminar as GSI Marks 175 Years of Excellence

The seminar aims to strengthen global scientific dialogue, promote research collaboration and support technological advancement across Earth sciences.

A landmark gathering of global geoscientific institutions and experts took place in Jaipur as Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the International Seminar on “Unearthing the Past, Shaping the Future: 175 Years of GSI”. Organized by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) as part of its 175th Foundation Year celebrations, the two-day seminar at the Rajasthan International Centre brought together an extraordinary assembly of national and international geoscientists, policy leaders, researchers and industry innovators.

The event marks a defining moment in acknowledging GSI’s historic contributions to India’s mineral discovery, scientific mapping and resource development—while charting a bold vision for the future of geoscience in India and beyond.

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Global Participation at a Landmark Geoscience Platform

The seminar drew representation from some of the world’s premier geological survey organizations and scientific institutions, including:

• British Geological Survey (BGS)

• United States Geological Survey (USGS)

• Geoscience Australia

Alongside global institutions, eminent experts from leading Indian organizations, universities and research bodies participated, making it one of the largest collaborative geoscience discussions hosted by India in recent years.

Senior dignitaries present at the opening session included:

• Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines

• Shri T. Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines & Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan

• Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI

• Shri Vijay V. Mugal, ADG & HOD, GSI Western Region

The seminar aims to strengthen global scientific dialogue, promote research collaboration and support technological advancement across Earth sciences.

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Union Minister’s Address: Geoscience as the Backbone of India’s Future

In his inaugural address, Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy lauded GSI’s 175-year scientific legacy and acknowledged its contribution to India’s industrial, economic and strategic growth. He emphasized several key priorities:

1. Expansion of Critical Mineral Exploration

With India accelerating clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology development, the need to secure critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, REEs and nickel has become paramount.

2. Adoption of AI/ML-enabled Geoscience Technologies

The Minister highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, deep-learning algorithms, hyperspectral imaging and machine-assisted geological modeling to unlock deeper, more complex mineral systems.

3. Strengthening India’s Disaster Preparedness

From earthquakes to landslides, geoscience plays a crucial role in mitigating disasters. Shri Reddy called for enhanced early-warning systems, geotechnical assessments and climate-resilience frameworks.

Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he encouraged geoscientists to advance research that supports sustainable national development while contributing to global scientific progress.

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Strengthening India’s Mineral Ecosystem: Insights from the Mines Secretary

Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, underscored the urgent need to create a sustainable, technologically advanced and globally competitive mineral ecosystem. As India’s industrial growth accelerates, securing mineral resources through innovation and strategic planning becomes foundational.

He reaffirmed that the Ministry of Mines will continue supporting GSI, state governments and industry partners through:

• Capacity-building frameworks

• Modern exploration techniques

• Digitization of geoscientific datasets

• Strategic alignment with future national priorities

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GSI’s Vision for the Future: A More Resilient and Research-Driven India

Director General Shri Asit Saha: The Road Ahead for Geoscience

DG GSI Shri Asit Saha reflected on the organization’s 175-year journey, from early geological mapping in the 19th century to leading exploration missions in the 21st century. He emphasized:

• Concept-driven, targeted mineral investigations

• Advanced subsurface imaging and geospatial integration

• Public-good geoscience to support national infrastructure

• Strengthening India’s long-term resource security

He highlighted the importance of critical minerals in energy transition and reaffirmed GSI’s commitment toward rapid exploration, integrated research and sustainable development.

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Scientific Exchange and Global Collaboration

Shri Vijay V. Mugal’s Welcome Address

As Chairman of the seminar, Shri Vijay V. Mugal welcomed distinguished participants and emphasized that the event aims to foster fresh thinking, open scientific exchange and collaborative research. The seminar celebrates GSI’s historic work while laying the foundation for next-generation geoscience priorities.

Rajasthan’s Commitment to Mineral-led Growth

Shri T. Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines & Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan, reiterated the state’s commitment to sustainable mining, mineral innovation and research partnerships. Rajasthan—rich in limestone, zinc, lead and dimension stone—continues to play a pivotal role in India’s mineral development.

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Exhibition Showcasing Next-Generation Technologies

On the sidelines of the seminar, the Minister inaugurated a major exhibition showcasing:

• Thematic displays by GSI

• Advanced technologies from research institutes

• Innovations from geospatial and mineral exploration companies

• Digital modeling tools, remote sensing systems and AI-driven platforms

The exhibition highlighted India’s growing capabilities in digital geoscience and mining technologies.

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Strategic MoUs with IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur

A highlight of the event was the signing of two MoUs between GSI and premier institutions:

• IIT Bombay

• IIT Kharagpur

These collaborations aim to:

• Strengthen frontier geoscience research

• Develop advanced mineral exploration technologies

• Train the next generation of geoscientists

• Promote deep-earth imaging and computational geoscience

The dignitaries also released the Abstract Volume, thematic maps and key GSI publications, documenting decades of landmark research.

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Key Themes of the Seminar: Charting India’s Geoscientific Roadmap

Day 1 explored a broad range of themes vital for India’s resource future:

• Critical mineral exploration

• Next-generation imaging and deep-earth technologies

• Geodynamics and plate tectonics research

• Climate resilience and disaster risk reduction

• Computational geoscience and digital innovations

• Sustainable mining and environmental management

The discussions emphasized India’s pivotal role in global mineral supply chains and its commitment to a cleaner, more resilient and resource-secure future.

The International Seminar commemorating 175 years of GSI highlights India’s scientific capability and leadership in global geosciences. As India aims for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, the event reinforces the importance of geoscience in securing critical resources, enabling technology-driven exploration, supporting clean energy transitions and strengthening disaster resilience.

The seminar marks not only a celebration of the past but also a bold step toward shaping the scientific and resource landscape of the future.