CGPB Meeting to Shape India’s Geoscience Priorities
The Geological Survey of India will convene the 65th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board on January 21 in New Delhi. Organised under the Ministry of Mines , the meeting serves as a pivotal platform for aligning India’s geoscience research and mineral exploration programmes with national development and strategic priorities.
CGPB’s Role in Coordinated Exploration
The CGPB functions as the apex coordination mechanism for geoscience activities in the country. At the meeting, GSI will present its Annual Field Season Programme for discussion and review. This consultative process helps synchronise exploration efforts among central agencies, state governments, public sector undertakings, academia and industry, while preventing duplication and ensuring optimal use of resources.
Leadership and Multi-Stakeholder Participation
The 65th meeting will be held at the A.P. Shinde Symposium Hall, ICAR–Pusa, and will be chaired by Piyush Goyal , Secretary, Ministry of Mines. Senior officials from GSI, including the Director General and Additional Secretary-level officers, will join representatives from state geological departments, mining PSUs, private industry and research institutions, reflecting the board’s broad-based and collaborative structure.
Emphasis on Critical Minerals and New Technologies
A major focus of deliberations will be on the exploration of critical and strategic minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements, graphite, scandium and vanadium—resources vital for clean energy technologies, electronics and strategic manufacturing. The meeting will also review the integration of advanced tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning, hyperspectral remote sensing, geophysical surveys, deep drilling and mineral system modelling to improve exploration efficiency and discovery success.
Annual Field Season Programme 2026–27
GSI will place its Field Season Programme 2026–27 before the board, comprising over 1,000 peer-reviewed projects across geoscience disciplines. These include initiatives on critical mineral assessment, offshore exploration, carbon sequestration studies and public-good geosciences. Disaster risk reduction will also feature prominently, with discussions on landslide hazard zonation and slope stability studies in Himalayan and Northeastern regions, along with frameworks for pre-competitive data sharing to support auction-ready mineral blocks.
Imporatnt Facts for Exams
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Central Geological Programming Board is the apex coordination body for geoscience programmes in India
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Geological Survey of India presents its Annual Field Season Programme before CGPB
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Critical minerals are essential for clean energy, electronics and strategic sectors
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AI, geophysics and remote sensing are key modern mineral exploration tools
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GSI undertakes landslide and disaster-related geoscience studies as public-good services
Strategic Importance Going Forward
The 65th CGPB meeting is expected to strengthen coordination between policy, science and industry, ensuring that India’s mineral exploration strategy supports energy transition, self-reliance and disaster resilience. By integrating advanced technologies with collaborative planning, the forum reinforces GSI’s role as a central pillar of India’s geoscience and mineral security framework.
Month: Current Affairs - January 21, 2026
Category: Minerals & Energy Resources | Science & Technology