Hyderabad: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy today threw open the doors to a new era in India’s mineral exploration, inaugurating the “Next-Gen Geophysics 2025: Unlocking Earth’s Hidden Treasures” conference at the Geological Survey of India (GSI) headquarters in Hyderabad.
Flanked by BJP MP Eatala Rajender, the Minister set the tone for the event by highlighting India’s readiness to embrace cutting-edge science, technology, and sustainability in its quest for critical minerals. “Geophysics will play a crucial role in achieving our vision of Viksit Bharat, helping us tackle challenges like climate change, rapid urbanisation, and disaster risk,” Kishan Reddy told an audience of geoscientists, researchers, and industry leaders.
He praised the GSI’s 175-year legacy of mapping India’s rich geological potential, calling it a cornerstone of the nation’s commitment to scientific discovery. The Minister also highlighted the National Landslide Forecasting Centre and a recent collaboration with Italy to boost disaster preparedness as key milestones in India’s geoscientific journey.
Kishan Reddy underscored India’s strides in global research and education, citing a 318% rise in Indian institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings 2025. He pointed to the expansion of IIT seats and the creation of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) as signs of the government’s investment in research and innovation.
He urged geoscientists to embrace technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing to unlock hidden mineral wealth, interpret seismic data, and predict resource-rich zones with greater precision. “Flagship programmes like the ₹10,300 crore India AI Mission and the ₹6,000 crore National Quantum Mission will be the engines of our innovation,” he declared.
Highlighting the strategic importance of critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt Kishan Reddy warned that India’s future economic resilience hinges on reducing dependence on imports. “We must innovate to discover these resources domestically using clean and efficient AI-driven methods,” he said, adding that collaboration between government, academia, and industry is the key. He praised the Mineral Exploration Hackathon as a powerful example of collective problem-solving.
At the same event, Eatala Rajender echoed the Minister’s vision, describing geoscience as standing on the cusp of a transformative era. “This is where traditional methods meet AI-powered models, quantum sensing, and advanced technologies to redefine mineral exploration,” Rajender noted. He commended the GSI’s adoption of AI and machine learning in geohazard assessments and mineral mapping, expressing optimism that India could lead the world in sustainable resource management.
Earlier, Kishan Reddy and Eatala Rajender flagged off two newly acquired Hydrostatic Drill Rigs, underscoring India’s push to modernise its geoscientific toolkit. They also inaugurated the Next-Gen Geophysics Expo Pavilion, where live demonstrations of advanced exploration tools including AI-enabled models drew attention from delegates eager to witness India’s leap into data-driven mineral discovery.
The two-day conference has attracted top minds from around the globe, with delegates from Australia, Canada, Russia, the USA, Poland, Malaysia, and Singapore joining Indian experts to discuss topics ranging from AI/ML-based exploration to high-resolution subsurface imaging and mineral targeting.
Also in attendance were Dr. S. Ravi, Deputy Director General and Head of Mission-V (Training and Capacity Building) at GSITI; Asit Saha, Director General of GSI; S.D. Patbhaje, Additional Director General (Southern Region); senior officials; and international dignitaries from the geoscientific community.
Inaugurated the “Next Gen Geophysics 2025: Unlocking Earth’s Hidden Treasures” a two-day conference organised by Geological Survey of India (GSI) at GSI Training Institute, Hyderabad today.
Under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India is witnessing a… pic.twitter.com/TOuQaJXDVB
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) June 9, 2025
