The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Geoscience Awards 2024 at a prestigious ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, recognizing exceptional contributions in the field of geoscience.
In her address, the President highlighted the historical and economic significance of minerals, noting their foundational role in human civilization. “The Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age — all named after minerals — reflect how deeply minerals are embedded in our progress,” she remarked.
She acknowledged that while mining drives economic development and generates employment, it also poses serious environmental and social challenges such as deforestation, pollution, and displacement. She urged strict adherence to regulations and responsible mine closure practices to safeguard both communities and ecosystems.
Touching on India’s maritime geography, the President emphasized the untapped potential of mineral resources beneath the ocean floor. She called on geoscientists to innovate technologies that can extract these resources sustainably, without harming marine biodiversity.
The President also stressed the broader responsibilities of geoscientists beyond mining, including the need to address geo-environmental sustainability. She praised the Ministry of Mines for embracing AI, machine learning, and drone-based surveys, and for its efforts in recovering valuable elements from mine tailings.
A key highlight of her speech was the strategic importance of Rare Earth Elements (REEs). She described REEs as the backbone of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones to clean energy systems. Given global geopolitical dynamics, she emphasized the urgency for India to become self-reliant in REE production and to develop indigenous technologies for their complex refinement processes.
The ceremony underscored India’s commitment to sustainable mineral development, technological advancement, and national security through geoscientific excellence.
