Bhubaneswar: The Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, will host the annual event of 64th Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting Chaired by V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines on 19 January 2025 at the State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhavan here.
This pivotal event will bring together key stakeholders from the exploration, researchers, and mining sectors to deliberate on geoscientific advancements, mineral exploration strategies, and solutions to challenges, including new initiatives in clean energy, geohazards, and sustainable development.
The meeting will also be graced by Asit Saha, Director General, GSI, Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, along with senior representatives from the Ministry of Mines, GSI, State geological departments, PSUs, and private exploration/mining companies.
The deliberations in the meeting will focus on the issues faced by the mineral sector in the country that includes:
Critical mineral exploration to support clean energy goals, AI/ML-driven mineral prospectivity analysis, State of the art geophysical techniques for mineral exploration, Reappraisal of underexplored areas, Geohazard studies including landslides and geo-environmental issues, and Border region geoscience investigations.
A significant highlight will be the placing GSI’s Annual Program for FS 2025-26, comprising 1,065 rigorously peer-reviewed projects across various disciplines of earth-sciences with major emphasis on mineral exploration. The program emphasizes innovation and sustainability, with expanded focus on carbon sequestration, offshore exploration, and capacity building through specialized training projects.
A highlight of the event will be the announcement of winners from the Mineral Hunt Techniques Hackathon, which received applications from startups and unicorns. The hackathon showcases cutting-edge techniques designed to accelerate mineral exploration and resource augmentation.
Other highlights include the launch of publications, including on the Geology and Mineral Resources of Jharkhand and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and a Geology and Mineral Resource Map of the North Eastern Region.
The CGPB meeting will serve as a collaborative and coordinating platform to align national geoscientific priorities with global sustainability goals, advancing India’s vision of innovation and resource security.