The Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted a two-day national conference titled ‘Critical Minerals: Exploration and Exploitation’ on 7 and 8 August at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, as part of GSI’s 175th foundation year celebrations.
Speaking at the conference, GSI Director General Asit Saha highlighted the intense global competition for technological growth. In this context, he underscored the pressing need of securing critical mineral resources vital for technological growth and energy independence.
Saha also emphasized the urgency of embracing a circular economy and adopting cutting-edge technologies to access untapped mineral potential for the country’s self-reliance.
He called for collaborative efforts among GSI, stakeholders, and academia.
Saha reaffirmed GSI’s commitment to supporting India’s clean energy goals and economic resilience through innovation, collaboration, and a forward-looking geoscientific approach.
He shed light on GSI’s 175-year journey from its early focus on coal exploration to its emergence as a globally recognized institution in diverse geoscientific domains.
Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) CMD ID Narayan applauded GSI’s pioneering contributions to critical mineral exploration and mineral block auctioning, as per a press release from the conference organizers.
He highlighted the collaborative efforts between MECL and GSI in the field of critical mineral exploration, including their joint initiatives in base metal and critical mineral exploration in Zambia and underscored the need for such collaborative efforts to transform geological potential into strategic resources.
He outlined the shared vision of achieving mineral self-reliance through innovation, strong partnerships, and focused efforts toward the augmentation of India’s mineral resource base.
In his address, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) Director Dheeraj Pande, highlighted the critical role of atomic and rare earth minerals in ensuring India’s energy security and digital growth.
Praising GSI’s proactive efforts, he called for deeper inter-agency collaboration and strategic alignment to unlock the country’s vast mineral potential and bolstering self-reliance.
Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur Vice Chancellor Rajesh Kumar Verma as chief guest opening the conference stressed the urgent need to accelerate exploration efforts and reduce import dependency, underscoring the strategic role of critical minerals in achieving India’s clean energy transition and technological self-reliance.
He appreciated GSI’s pivotal role in the field of critical mineral exploration and creating a robust foundation for mineral sector growth.
The conference featured technical sessions on diverse geoscientific themes such as geological frameworks, mineral system models, geophysical strategies, innovative exploration tools, sustainable mining practices, policy reform, and critical mineral recycling.
Technical papers, posters, and research abstracts were presented and deliberated upon by domain experts, reinforcing the importance of geoscientific innovation in securing India’s resource future, the release said.