National Geoscience Awards 2023: Recognizing Excellence in Geosciences
Context:
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Geoscience Awards (NGA) for the year 2023 at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi. The awards honor geoscientists for their outstanding contributions to the field, including research, innovation, and exploration.
Key Highlights from News:
- National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement: Conferred upon Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee for his pioneering work on phosphorites, isotope geology, and organic geochemistry of Precambrian sedimentary rocks in India.
- National Geoscience Awards: A total of 10 awards were given across various geoscience fields, including 3 team awards.
- National Young Geoscientist Award: Awarded to Dr. Ashutosh Pandey of IISER Thiruvananthapuram for his research on the geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Dharwar Craton and the origin of Paleoproterozoic Lesser Himalayan mafic rocks.
- The National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal was highlighted, showcasing the integration of geoscientific data for enhanced exploration and mining.
- The Critical Mineral Mission was emphasized, aiming to secure the supply chain of critical minerals essential for India’s economic development and green transition.
- Recent amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) in 2023 were noted, empowering the Central Government to auction 24 critical and strategic minerals.
- The President underscored the importance of achieving self-sufficiency in mineral production as part of the broader goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.
- The role of AI and emerging technologies in mineral exploration and the establishment of the National Landslide Forecasting Centre in Kolkata were highlighted as crucial steps towards sustainable development.
Significance:
- The National Geoscience Awards serve as a platform to recognize and encourage excellence in the field of geosciences, crucial for sustainable development and national progress.
- The integration of geoscientific data and the focus on critical minerals underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing India’s mineral exploration capabilities.
- The awards also reflect the strategic importance of geosciences in nation-building, with initiatives like the Critical Mineral Mission playing a key role in securing India’s future resource needs.
- The emphasis on AI, technological innovation, and early warning systems highlights the evolving nature of geoscience in addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change, disaster management, and sustainable resource utilization.
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