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President Confers National Geoscience Awards 2024
What’s the News?
- President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi, honouring 20 geoscientists across 12 awards—including 9 individual and 3 team awards.
- The President underscored the strategic importance of geosciences in national development, calling for sustainable mining practices, indigenous technology for rare earth element (REE) refining, and greater use of AI, drones, and machine learning in mineral exploration.
- She stressed that mining must balance economic growth with environmental and social responsibility, urging strict adherence to regulations and proper mine closure protocols.
Award Categories & Key Recipients
- National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement:
- Prof. Shyam Sundar Rai (IISER Pune) – Recognized for pioneering work in seismology and Earth structure, especially in the India-Himalayan-Tibet region.
- Prize: ₹5 lakh + Certificate.
- National Young Geoscientist Award:
- Susobhan Neogi (GSI) – Honoured for outstanding research in geosciences.
- Prize: ₹1 lakh + ₹5 lakh research grant over 5 years + Certificate.
- National Geoscience Awards (10 awards):
- Mineral Discovery & Exploration: 3 awards (including critical minerals and coal/CBM exploration) – all team-based from Geological Survey of India (GSI).
- Mining & Sustainable Development:
- Dr. Jai Krishna Pandey (CSIR-CIMFR) – for innovations in mining technology and safety.
- Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Singh (CSIR-NML) – for work in mineral beneficiation and sustainable development.
- Basic Geosciences: 2 individual awards (details not fully disclosed in public domain).
- Applied Geosciences:
- Prof. Ghulam Jeelani (University of Kashmir) – groundwater and geo-environmental studies.
- Prof. Sanjit Kumar Pal (IIT ISM Dhanbad) – applied geophysics and instrumentation.
- Prof. Mukat Lal Sharma (IIT Roorkee) – natural hazard investigation (earthquakes, landslides).
Additional Info
- National Geoscience Awards (NGA):
- Instituted in 1966 by the Ministry of Mines.
- Governed by NGA Regulations 2022, covering four core sections:
- Mineral Discovery & Exploration
- Mining, Mineral Beneficiation & Sustainable Development
- Basic Geosciences
- Applied Geosciences
- Selection Process: Based on 208 nominations reviewed by expert committees; team awards limited to max 4 members.
- Strategic Focus Areas Highlighted by President:
- Rare Earth Elements (REEs):
- Critical for defence, EVs, smartphones, and clean energy.
- Not scarce in crust, but complex to refine—India must develop indigenous refining tech for self-reliance.
- Ocean Minerals:
- India’s three-ocean coastline holds vast seabed mineral potential; geoscientists urged to develop eco-sensitive extraction methods.
- Technology Integration:
- Promotion of AI, ML, drone surveys, and recovery of valuable elements from mine tailings by the Ministry of Mines.
- Rare Earth Elements (REEs):
- Geological Survey of India (GSI):
- Established: 1851
- Headquarters: Kolkata
- Director General: Asit Saha
- Primary agency for geological mapping, mineral exploration, and geohazard assessment.