Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri. G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the seminar featuring global geoscientific dialogue in Jaipur Today. The Geological Survey of India (GSI), as part of its 175^th Foundation Year celebrations, is organizing the two day long International Seminar on “Unearthing the Past, Shaping the Future: 175 Years of GSI” at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur. The seminar was graced by the presence of 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, WR and other senior officials.

The seminar brings together global geological survey organisations including the British Geological Survey (BGS), United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Geoscience Australia, along with eminent experts and delegates from premier geoscience institutions in India and abroad, to showcase diverse technical sessions and cutting-edge insights, enrich scientific exchange, and lay the foundation for impactful, forward-looking geoscientific discussions.

In his address, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal & Mines, lauded GSI’s 175-year contribution to India’s scientific advancement, industrial growth, and national resilience. The minister emphasized the need to expand critical mineral exploration, adopt advanced AI/ML-based geoscience technologies, and strengthen India’s disaster-preparedness framework to support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, he urged the stakeholders to drive national priorities while contributing to global sustainability and shared scientific progress.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, in his address, emphasized that as India accelerates its economic growth, it is imperative to build a mineral ecosystem that is sustainable, self-reliant, technologically advanced, and globally competitive. He reiterated that the Ministry of Mines will continue to strengthen GSI and other stakeholders through capacity building and strategic alignment with national priorities.

Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI and patron of the seminar, highlighted GSI’s 175-year geoscientific legacy and emphasized that with the global geoscience landscape evolving rapidly, the future demands enhanced exploration efforts, smarter technologies, and sharper scientific insight. Underscoring importance of critical minerals, he stressed concept-driven investigations, advanced subsurface imaging, and strengthened public-good geoscience. Shri Saha reaffirmed GSI’s commitment to accelerating exploration, deepening integrated research, enhancing the mineral resource base, and bolstering India’s long-term resource security and sustainability goals.

Shri Vijay V. Mugal, ADG & HOD, GSI Western Region, and Chairman of the seminar, in his welcome address, extended a warm welcome to distinguished dignitaries, national and international geoscientific experts, researchers, and delegates to this landmark gathering. He noted that the seminar not only celebrates GSI’s 175 years of geoscientific endeavor but also aims to foster an open scientific exchange, encouraging fresh thinking, and shaping a coherent spectrum of geoscience priorities for the decades to come.

Shri T. Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines & Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan, emphasised Rajasthan’s commitment to sustainable mineral development and the need for continued innovation, research, and collaboration to support national mineral security.

On the sidelines of the seminar, the Minister inaugurated an exhibition showcasing thematic displays by geoscience institutions, industry partners, and technology innovators. He also visited various stalls, appreciating the exhibits and the innovations presented by participating organisations.

Key highlights of the event included signing of the MoU between GSI and two leading organisations of India namely IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur, aimed at strengthening collaborative research and advancing frontier geoscience technologies. On the occasion, dignitaries released the Abstract Volume, thematic maps, and key GSI publications.

The first day of the international seminar provided a significant platform to reflect on GSI’s 175-year legacy while advancing forward-looking discussions across diverse thematic areas, spanning critical minerals, next-generation exploration technologies, geodynamics, climate resilience, digital and computational innovations, and geoscience-led sustainable development. Aligned with India’s pursuit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the long-term vision of a Viksit Bharat, the deliberations emphasized the vital role of geosciences in bolstering national resource security, enabling the clean energy transition, and supporting environmental resilience.

 

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Prajith Kumar

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