New Delhi: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will undertake about 300 exploration projects on critical and strategic minerals in 2026-27, marking a significant scale-up in its mineral exploration efforts, said a statement on Thursday. It is also planning to undertake at least 50 focussed projects in strategically important border areas.
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The statement said GSI is looking at “approximately 500 mineral exploration projects” in Field Season 2026-27, with “around 300 focused on critical and strategic minerals.” It added that this represents “a substantial increase of about 30 percent in critical mineral projects over the previous field season,” with a focus on “seamless progression from reconnaissance to G2 level to expedite the generation of auction-ready mineral blocks.”
The ministry said GSI will also carry out “focused interventions in strategically important border areas, with around 50 projects across its missions.” It added that the Comprehensive Field Season Programme Guidelines 2026 will “rationalise the programme cycle to an April–March schedule” and “introduce fast-track mechanisms for critical and national priority projects.”
According to the statement, GSI completed 458 mineral exploration projects in Field Season 2025-26, including 230 on critical minerals and 92 on rare earth elements.
It added that 80 Geological Reports were handed over for auction, supporting the pipeline of mineral blocks for commercial development and private sector participation.
The statement also outlined plans for 58 geoinformatics projects to strengthen “data integration, AI/ML-based modelling, and geospatial analytics.”
GSI will continue work on geohazards, geoheritage and infrastructure support, positioning itself as “the geological backbone of a self-reliant and resource-secure India.”
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“GSI has strengthened its collaborative ecosystem through strategic partnerships with leading international organisations such as the British Geological Survey and Geoscience Australia, particularly in the domain of critical minerals. At the national level, it is actively working with premier institutions including IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur on advanced geoscientific research, while also reinforcing downstream linkages through collaborations with IMMT Bhubaneswar for beneficiation studies and innovation platforms such as TEXMiN at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad to promote technology development across the mineral & mining value chain,” said the statement.
