The Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the Ministry of Mines will host the 65th Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting in Delhi on January 21. The meeting, to be held at the A.P. Shinde Symposium Hall at ICAR, Pusa, will bring together representatives from Central ministries, State governments, industry, academia and mining bodies to discuss emerging geoscience priorities, mineral exploration strategies and challenges linked to clean energy, geohazards and sustainable development.
The CGPB functions as a key platform where GSI presents its Annual Field Season Programme (FSP) for discussion, ensuring coordinated survey and exploration activities across the country and preventing duplication of efforts. Suggestions and collaboration requests from State governments, mineral exploration agencies, PSUs and private players are evaluated, following which GSI finalises its annual programme in line with national priorities.
The 65th meeting will be chaired by Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, in the presence of GSI Director General Asit Saha, Additional Secretary Sanjay Lohiya and senior representatives from the Ministry of Mines, State geological departments, PSUs and the private mining sector.
Deliberations are expected to focus on critical mineral exploration—particularly lithium, rare earth elements, graphite, scandium and vanadium—to support India’s clean energy transition and self-reliance goals. Modern exploration technologies such as AI/ML-based data integration, geophysical surveys, hyperspectral remote sensing, deep drilling and mineral system studies are also expected to feature prominently. Discussions will additionally cover collaborative and pre-competitive data-sharing frameworks to accelerate auction-ready mineral blocks, as well as landslide hazard zonation and slope stability studies for Himalayan and Northeastern regions to strengthen disaster risk reduction efforts.
GSI will also place its Annual Programme for Field Season 2026–27 before the board, comprising 1,068 peer-reviewed projects across earth science disciplines with a sharpened focus on critical minerals, carbon sequestration studies, offshore exploration and public-good geosciences. The meeting will also see the release of GSI publications and an exhibition showcasing its strategic and critical mineral exploration activities.
Ministry said the CGPB meeting will help align geoscientific initiatives with national development and sustainability goals while advancing India’s long-term resource security and innovation agenda.
