Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, today inaugurated a global geoscientific seminar in Jaipur, organised by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) as part of its 175th Foundation Year celebrations. The two-day international seminar, titled “Unearthing the Past, Shaping the Future: 175 Years of GSI”, is being held at the Rajasthan International Centre. Senior dignitaries including Piyush Goyal, Secretary, Ministry of Mines; T. Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines and Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan; GSI Director General Asit Saha; and ADG & HOD (Western Region) Vijay V. Mugal were in attendance. The seminar brings together global geological institutions such as the British Geological Survey (BGS), United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Geoscience Australia, alongside leading experts and delegates from major national and international geoscience bodies. The event features diverse technical sessions designed to promote scientific exchange, showcase cutting-edge insights and shape forward-looking geoscience discussions. In his address, Reddy praised GSI’s 175-year contribution to India’s scientific progress, industrial development and national resilience. He highlighted the urgent need to expand critical mineral exploration, adopt advanced AI and machine-learning geoscience technologies and strengthen disaster preparedness to support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Citing the Viksit Bharat@2047 agenda, he urged stakeholders to support national priorities while contributing to global sustainability and collaborative scientific progress. Piyush Goyal emphasised that as India accelerates economic growth, it must build a mineral ecosystem that is sustainable, technologically advanced, self-reliant and globally competitive. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Mines’ commitment to strengthening GSI and other institutions through capacity building and strategic alignment with national goals. GSI Director General Asit Saha underscored the organisation’s 175-year geoscientific legacy. With the global geoscience landscape evolving rapidly, he stressed the need for enhanced exploration, smarter technologies and sharper scientific understanding. Highlighting the rising importance of critical minerals, he emphasised concept-driven investigations, advanced subsurface imaging and strengthened public-good geoscience. He reaffirmed GSI’s commitment to accelerating exploration, deepening integrated research and bolstering India’s long-term resource security and sustainability. In his welcome address, Vijay V. Mugal, ADG & HOD (Western Region) and seminar chairman, welcomed national and international delegates, noting that the event not only commemorates 175 years of GSI but also aims to encourage open scientific exchange, fresh thinking and the development of long-term geoscience priorities. T. Ravikanth, Principal Secretary, Mines and Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan, emphasised the state’s commitment to sustainable mineral development and the importance of innovation, research and collaboration in achieving national mineral security. Alongside the seminar, the Minister inaugurated an exhibition showcasing thematic displays by geoscience organisations, industry partners and technology innovators. He also visited various stalls and commended the scientific and technological advancements on display. A key highlight of the opening day was the signing of MoUs between GSI and two leading Indian institutions — IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur — aimed at strengthening collaborative research and advancing frontier geoscience technologies. Dignitaries also released an Abstract Volume, thematic maps and key GSI publications. The first day of the seminar offered a platform to reflect on GSI’s 175-year journey while enabling forward-looking discussions across critical minerals, next-generation exploration, geodynamics, climate resilience, digital and computational innovation, and geoscience-driven sustainable development. In line with India’s objectives under Atmanirbhar Bharat and the long-term vision of a Viksit Bharat, participants highlighted the essential role of geosciences in strengthening national resource security, enabling the clean-energy transition and enhancing environmental resilience.