Overview
The Ministry of Mines, led by Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated the Geological Survey of India's (GSI) International Seminar in Jaipur on November 20, 2025. This seminar marks 175 years of geoscientific excellence for the GSI and aims to integrate global expertise to drive future geoscience breakthroughs.
Key Participants
- Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal & Mines
- Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines
- Shri T. Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines & Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan
- Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI
- Representatives from British Geological Survey (BGS), United States Geological Survey (USGS), and Geoscience Australia
Key Developments
Seminar Objectives
The seminar aims to:
- Showcase diverse technical sessions and cutting-edge insights.
- Enrich scientific exchange among global experts.
- Lay the foundation for impactful, forward-looking geoscientific discussions.
Ministerial Addresses
Shri G. Kishan Reddy emphasized the need to:
- Expand critical mineral exploration.
- Adopt advanced AI/ML-based geoscience technologies.
- Strengthen India’s disaster-preparedness framework to support Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Shri Piyush Goyal highlighted the importance of building a sustainable, self-reliant, technologically advanced, and globally competitive mineral ecosystem.
GSI's Commitment
Shri Asit Saha reaffirmed GSI’s commitment to:
- Accelerating exploration efforts.
- Deepening integrated research.
- Enhancing the mineral resource base.
- Bolstering India’s long-term resource security and sustainability goals.
MoU and Publications
- An MoU was signed between GSI and IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur to strengthen collaborative research.
- The Abstract Volume, thematic maps, and key GSI publications were released.
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper Alignment
This event is relevant to the following GS papers:
- GS1: Geography (resource distribution)
- GS3: Science and Technology (AI/ML in geoscience), Infrastructure (mineral resource base), Economy (critical minerals, resource security)
- GS2: Government Policies (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
Exam Perspective
The seminar's focus on critical minerals and advanced technologies aligns with UPSC's emphasis on resource management and technological advancement. The discussions around Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047 are crucial for understanding India's long-term development goals.
Important Facts
- The seminar celebrated 175 years of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
- Key participants included representatives from BGS, USGS, and Geoscience Australia.
- The event emphasized the importance of critical mineral exploration and AI/ML-based geoscience technologies.
- An MoU was signed between GSI and IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur.
- The seminar supports the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047.