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GSI to pursue 300 critical mineral exploration projects next year: D-G Saha

February 28, 2026 5 min read Economics Geography GS1 (Resources) GS3 (Indian Economy Infrastructure)
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What Happened

  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has lined up approximately 300 critical mineral exploration projects for the field season 2026-27, as part of its Annual Programme presented at the 65th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB).
  • GSI's total programme for 2026-27 comprises 1,068 scientific projects, with critical mineral exploration receiving the largest programmatic thrust — 236 projects specifically in this domain.
  • The Ministry of Mines Secretary announced GSI would pursue continuous rolling approvals of projects (instead of annual approval) to enable prospective areas to be explored as a whole without seasonal interruption.
  • GSI has also formulated 58 Geoinformatics and Data Analysis projects for 2026-27, focusing on AI/ML modelling, legacy data integration, and geospatial technologies to enhance exploration efficiency.
  • The push aligns with the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and India's goal to reduce import dependence for minerals critical to clean energy transitions and defence manufacturing.

Static Topic Bridges

India's Critical Minerals Framework — List, Policy, and Mission

The Government of India notified a list of 30 Critical Minerals in 2023, defining them as minerals essential for economic development and national security whose supply disruption would have significant consequences. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 (MMDR Amendment Act, 2023) inserted 24 critical and strategic minerals into Part D of Schedule I of the MMDR Act, 1957, giving the central government exclusive control over their auctioning. The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) was subsequently launched with an allocation of ₹16,300 crore to fast-track domestic exploration, processing, and recycling of critical minerals.

  • India's 30 critical minerals include: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Titanium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, among others.
  • MMDR Amendment Act, 2023: Central government given exclusive auctioning rights for 24 critical/strategic minerals (previously states auctioned all non-coal minerals).
  • KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd.) — joint venture of NALCO, Hindustan Copper, and MECL — mandated to acquire critical mineral assets overseas. In January 2024, KABIL signed a USD 24 million deal with Argentina for rights to explore five lithium blocks in Catamarca province.
  • India imports nearly 100% of its lithium, cobalt, and nickel requirements — primarily from China, Australia, and African nations.

Connection to this news: GSI's 300-project push operationalises the NCMM's domestic exploration mandate — building India's indigenous mineral inventory to reduce the strategic vulnerability of import dependence.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) — Functions and Significance

GSI is one of the world's oldest geological survey organisations, established in 1851 (originally to find coal deposits for the Indian railways). It functions under the Ministry of Mines and serves as the primary agency for national geoscientific data, mineral exploration, hazard management, and geoinformatics. GSI operates the National Geoscientific Data Repository and maintains critical geological maps, borehole data, and geophysical surveys that form the foundation for mineral block auctions and resource assessment. GSI's field seasons run annually, and its Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) approves scientific programmes.

  • Established: 1851, making it one of the world's oldest geological survey bodies.
  • Ministry: Ministry of Mines.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata (with regional offices across India).
  • Key mandates: Geological mapping, mineral exploration, natural hazard assessment (landslides, earthquakes), coastal and marine surveys, environmental geology.
  • GSI supplies baseline geological data for the Mineral Exploration and Consultation Ltd (MECL) to carry out detailed exploration ahead of block auctions under MMDR.
  • Under the National Mineral Exploration Policy (2016), GSI's baseline data is made available to private players to encourage private mineral exploration.

Connection to this news: The 300 critical mineral projects represent a significant scaling up — GSI's normal annual programme covers ~900-1,000 projects total, meaning nearly 30% of the 2026-27 programme is now dedicated to critical minerals.

Critical Minerals and the Energy Transition — Strategic Stakes

Critical minerals are essential inputs for clean energy technologies: lithium and cobalt for batteries (EVs, grid storage), rare earth elements for permanent magnets in wind turbines and EV motors, nickel for battery anodes, silicon for solar photovoltaic cells, and copper for electrical wiring across all renewable infrastructure. The global energy transition is creating an unprecedented demand surge — the IEA projects a 4x increase in critical mineral demand by 2040 for a net-zero scenario. China currently dominates processing of most critical minerals (60-90% of global refining capacity for lithium, cobalt, REEs), creating supply chain concentration risks for countries dependent on imports.

  • Lithium demand projected to grow 40x by 2040 (IEA).
  • China controls ~60% of global lithium processing, ~80% of cobalt refining, and ~90% of rare earth processing.
  • India's EV targets under PM e-DRIVE and FAME schemes increase domestic critical mineral demand.
  • India has confirmed reserves of REEs (Monazite sand in Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu coasts), Lithium (Salal-Haimana deposit, J&K — India's first confirmed lithium deposit, announced 2023), Cobalt (limited), Nickel (Odisha).
  • Quad Critical Minerals Partnership (India-US-Japan-Australia) aims to diversify supply chains away from Chinese concentration.

Connection to this news: GSI's expanded exploration is a direct response to this strategic calculus — every domestic critical mineral discovery reduces India's vulnerability to global supply disruptions and improves its bargaining position in the energy transition geopolitics.

Key Facts & Data

  • GSI established: 1851 (under Ministry of Mines, HQ: Kolkata).
  • GSI's 2026-27 programme: 1,068 total scientific projects; ~300 critical mineral projects; 236 specifically in critical mineral domain; 58 geoinformatics projects.
  • India's 30 critical minerals list notified: 2023.
  • MMDR Amendment Act, 2023: 24 critical minerals placed under central government exclusive auction authority.
  • National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM): ₹16,300 crore allocation.
  • KABIL: Joint venture of NALCO + Hindustan Copper + MECL; January 2024 deal — 5 lithium blocks in Catamarca, Argentina for $24 million.
  • India's first confirmed lithium deposit: Salal-Haimana, Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir (announced February 2023); estimated 5.9 million tonnes.
  • China controls ~60% of global lithium processing, ~90% of rare earth processing.
  • Quad Critical Minerals Partnership: India, USA, Japan, Australia.