Central Geological Programming Board Reviews Ambitious Annual Programme for Geological Survey

Bhopal: The 63rd meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) took place today in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

The primary agenda of the meeting centered around the proposed Annual Programme for the upcoming Field Season year 2024-25. The GSI has charted out an ambitious plan comprising approximately 1055 scientific programs for the said period. These programs encompass 392 Mineral Development projects, emphasizing stages G2, G3, G4, and Offshore Explorations. Notably, these projects hold the potential to generate auctionable mineral blocks in the near future. Additionally, 133 projects, categorized as Mineral Discovery Projects (RMT; Research Project; C-MAP; GT; MPA; Multispectral/Hyperspectral projects), focus on promising areas for future exploration in the G4 stage.

The exploration efforts highlight a significant thrust on strategic and critical minerals, including Rare Earth Elements (REE), Raw Minerals (RM), Graphite, Lithium, Vanadium, and Platinum Group Elements (PGE). A total of 188 projects dedicated to these crucial mineral commodities have gained approval for the year 2024-25, marking a nearly 50% increase from the previous year’s target.

Furthermore, the plan incorporates 111 projects under Natural Hazard Studies/Public Good Geoscience, aiming at societal benefits. These include 25 programs undertaken on state requests/Disaster Management Authorities, primarily covering Natural Hazards, and 43 collaborative programs with universities, agencies, or under the sponsorship of different authorities like IITs, NGRI, DRDO, NRSC-ISRO, University of Hyderabad, ASI, CGWB Ministry of Jal Shakti, SJVNL, NWDA, Indian Railways, BRO, and State Irrigation Departments, among others.

Apart from approving the Field Season Programme (FSP) items of GSI, the meeting witnessed the unveiling of the Report on Geological & Geotechnical Investigation of Joshimath Township, Chamoli District. Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, presented the report for handing it over to the Uttarakhand Government. Additionally, the Mineral Map of the newly formed Union Territory of Ladakh was released, accompanied by other significant publications of GSI.

In his address, V. L. Kantha Rao underscored the significance of scientific rigor in the mining sector. He urged GSI and other exploration agencies to expedite exploration activities, with a specific emphasis on Critical Minerals. The Secretary encouraged state governments to proactively implement exploration projects through National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) funding and called upon stakeholders to leverage geoscience data available on the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal for streamlined exploration processes.

A dedicated two-hour session was allocated for the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal, a cloud-based platform hosting pre-competitive baseline geological and mineral exploration data. The NGDR portal, equipped with advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), aims to facilitate efficient data utilization by start-ups, private mining companies, and exploration agencies. By identifying subtle patterns and relationships within vast datasets, the portal is expected to significantly enhance the pace of mineral exploration.

In conjunction with the meeting, an exhibition themed “Mining and Beyond” was inaugurated by V.L. Kantha Rao. The exhibition showcased achievements and advancements in the mining sector, featuring contributions from GSI, PSUs, District Mineral Foundations (DMFs), major mining companies, private exploration agencies, startups, and the Madhya Pradesh Government. PSUs such as Manganese Ore India Ltd. (MOIL), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), National Aluminum Company Ltd. (NALCO), and Mineral Exploration Consultancy Ltd. (MECL) presented their best practices and technical innovations. The exhibition also provided visitors with a virtual experience of mining and mineral processing through VR systems, contributing to broader awareness and understanding among students from engineering colleges in Bhopal.