President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards (NGA) for 2023 in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi. The event, attended by notable figures like Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Coal and Mines, and other senior officials, highlighted India’s progress in geosciences and mineral exploration.
This year, 21 geoscientists were honored across 12 awards under three categories: the National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement, the National Geoscience Awards, and the National Young Geoscientist Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee for his pioneering research in areas like phosphorites, isotope geology, and organic geochemistry, which have significantly advanced the understanding of India’s Precambrian rocks and the Himalayas.
The National Geoscience Awards category recognized 10 winners, including three teams, across various geoscience disciplines. Dr. Ashutosh Pandey from IISER Thiruvananthapuram received the National Young Geoscientist Award for his groundbreaking work on the geodynamics of the Eastern Dharwar Craton and proposing new models for the origin of Himalayan mafic rocks.
During the event, Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, discussed the evolution of the awards since their inception in 1966 and emphasized the importance of new initiatives like the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal. He highlighted the government’s focus on offshore exploration alongside onshore projects and underscored the awards’ role in fostering innovation and excellence in geosciences.
Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, praised the contributions of geoscientists to nation-building and highlighted key government reforms, including the Critical Mineral Mission aimed at boosting domestic critical mineral production, recycling, and acquisition abroad.
In his address, Shri G. Kishan Reddy reiterated the government’s commitment to advancing the mining sector as part of the “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision. He emphasized recent amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, which empower the government to auction critical and strategic minerals. The Minister also spoke about the introduction of exploration licenses for deep-seated minerals and the use of AI and emerging technologies in mineral discovery.
In her speech, President Murmu stressed the importance of mineral self-sufficiency in achieving India’s development goals by 2047. She expressed confidence in the government’s initiatives like the integration of geoscientific data through the NGDR portal and the use of advanced technologies in exploration. The President also highlighted India’s commitment to sustainable development and achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission, noting the establishment of the National Critical Minerals Mission as a key step in securing supply chains for essential minerals. Additionally, she emphasized the role of geo-tourism and urged the youth to explore the field of geoscience.
The National Geoscience Awards remain a prestigious recognition of excellence in geosciences, celebrating significant contributions in mineral exploration, natural hazard investigations, and sustainable development.
