64th Central Geological Programming Board Meeting Held in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The 64th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) was held today at the State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. Chaired by V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Chairman, CGPB, the event brought together stakeholders from exploration, research, and mining sectors to discuss advancements in geosciences and strategies for sustainable mineral exploration.

The meeting featured key dignitaries, including Asit Saha, Director General, Geological Survey of India (GSI), and Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines. Discussions centered on mineral resource augmentation, clean energy initiatives, geohazard management, and collaborative approaches to address critical challenges.

The proposed Annual Programme for the GSI’s 2025-26 Field Season was a major agenda item. GSI has formulated 1,065 scientific programs for the year, including:

• 402 Mineral Development Projects focusing on generating auctionable mineral blocks through G2, G3, G4, and offshore explorations.
• 227 Projects on Critical Minerals targeting rare earth elements, lithium, graphite, vanadium, and platinum group elements, marking a 16% increase from last year.
• 141 Projects on Natural Hazard Studies, Public Good Geoscience, and Fundamental Geoscience, encompassing climate change, polar research, and disaster risk reduction.

Approximately ₹300 crores, or 25% of the GSI’s budget, will be allocated to critical mineral exploration, underscoring the nation’s commitment to bolstering its strategic mineral reserves.

The event showcased GSI’s adoption of advanced technologies, including 65 geoinformatics projects utilizing AI/ML modeling, legacy data integration, and tools such as Magnetotelluric and Heliborne surveys. The Mineral Hunt Techniques Hackathon was a standout feature, with teams from AMD, GSI, and IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, presenting AI-driven solutions for mineral exploration.

Several key publications were released, including geological and mineral resource reports for Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and the North Eastern Region. An exhibition featuring contributions from GSI, PSUs, private agencies, and startups showcased advancements in geoscience.

In his address, Rao emphasized the CGPB’s pivotal role in fostering collaboration and advancing geosciences. He highlighted milestones, including the successful auctioning of 24 critical mineral blocks in 2024-25 and the launch of India’s first-ever auction of 13 offshore mineral blocks.

Rao encouraged agencies to leverage the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) for enhanced exploration and R&D efforts. He also stressed the importance of utilizing geological data available on the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal to streamline exploration initiatives.