The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Geoscience Awards-2024 for outstanding contributions in the field of Geoscience at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (September 26, 2025).

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines; Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines; Shri Asit Saha, Director General, Geological Survey of India and several other senior officials and distinguished guests.

The National Geoscience Awards, instituted by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India in 1966, recognize individuals and teams for extraordinary achievements and outstanding contributions in various fields of geosciences, such as mineral discovery & exploration, fundamental/ applied geosciences, mining and allied areas.

This year, 20 eminent geoscientists were honoured with 12 awards under three categories, which include National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement (01 award), National Young Geoscientist Award (01 award) and National Geoscience Awards (10 awards across various fields of geosciences).

The National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement 2024 was conferred on Prof. Shyam Sundar Rai, Senior Scientist, INSA and Visiting Professor, IISER Pune, for his outstanding contributions to Solid Earth and Exploration Geophysics, including pathbreaking seismological research across Peninsular India, the western Himalayas, and Ladakh.

The National Young Geoscientist Award 2024 was presented to Shri Susobhan Neogi, Senior Geologist, Geological Survey of India, for his pioneering work on the tectonic evolution of mobile and thrust belts of Meghalaya and Jharkhand, Bundelkhand craton etc. advancing knowledge of supercontinent assembly and mineral genesis.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, in his welcome address, outlined the history and significance of the National Geoscience Awards and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to fostering innovation and scientific advancement in geosciences. He highlighted reforms such as amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, which have streamlined the mineral auction regime for greater transparency and efficiency. These initiatives, he noted, reflect a national effort to unlock India’s mineral potential and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. He further emphasized the pivotal role of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), with nearly 50% of its ongoing projects focused on critical and strategic minerals aligned with India’s clean energy and National Critical Mineral Mission goals. He also noted that GSI has made geological data widely accessible through the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR).

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal & Mines, congratulated the awardees and emphasized that geoscience is a key pillar for achieving Viksit Bharat 2047, driving industrial and technological development. Highlighting reforms over the past 11 years, he noted the establishment of the National Critical Mineral Mission to enhance exploration, mining, processing, and acquisition of critical minerals.

He mentioned that GSI is celebrating 175th year of its foundation and continues to be central to India’s geoscientific advancement. GSI has played a pivotal role by identifying over 500 mineral blocks, catalysing mineral auctions and energizing India’s resource economy.

The Minister urged geoscientists, especially the youth, to drive a 360-degree transformation in the geoscience ecosystem, and stressed the need for private sector engagement, international collaboration, and adoption of best practices for a resilient and sustainable mining sector.

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in her address, said that minerals have played a crucial role in the development of human civilization. Minerals found in the Earth's crust have provided the foundation for human life and shaped our trade and industry. The Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age — the major stages of human civilization's development — are named after minerals. Industrialization would have been unimaginable without minerals like iron and coal.

The President highlighted that our country is surrounded by oceans on three sides. The depths of these oceans hold reserves of many valuable minerals. Geoscientists play a crucial role in utilizing these resources for the nation's development. The President urged them to develop technologies that can harness the resources beneath the seafloor for the nation's benefit while minimizing damage to marine biodiversity.

The President said the role of geoscientists isn't limited to mining. The impact of mining on geo-environmental sustainability also needs to be addressed by them. Technology needs to be developed and deployed to add value to mineral products and minimize wastage. This is crucial for sustainable mineral development. The President was happy to note that the Ministry of Mines is committed to sustainability and innovation and is promoting AI, machine learning, and drone-based surveys in the mining industry and also appreciated the steps taken by the Ministry for the recovery of valuable elements from mine tailings.

The President said that Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are the backbone of modern technology. They power everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to defence systems and clean energy solutions. Given the current geopolitical situation, India must become self-reliant in their production. This is crucial for achieving the goal of a developed India and ensuring national security. The President underlined that REEs are considered rare not because they are scarce, but because the process of refining them and making them usable is extremely complex also stated that developing indigenous technology to accomplish this complex process would be a major contribution to the national interest.

The National Geoscience Awards continue to represent a prestigious recognition and appreciation of outstanding achievements in the field of geosciences. These awards play a vital role in encouraging scientific excellence and innovation in the sector, contributing to sustainable development and India’s mineral and energy security.

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Shuhaib T/ Durgesh Kumar

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