President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Geoscience Awards-2024 on September 26, 2025 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The ceremony honoured 20 eminent geoscientists for outstanding contributions in geoscience. The awards recognise work in geological and mineral sciences, especially mineral discovery and exploration, fundamental and applied geosciences, mining and allied areas.
The National Geoscience Awards were instituted in 1966 by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Until 2009, they were known as the National Mineral Awards. For 2024, 12 awards were finalised across 3 categories: 1 Lifetime Achievement award, 1 Young Geoscientist award, and 10 National Geoscience Awards across different geoscience fields. The Ministry received 208 nominations, and after a 3-stage screening process, 9 individual and 3 team awards were selected.
In exams, direct questions can be framed around the Ministry of Mines, the awards' institution in 1966, their earlier name until 2009, and sustainable mining. In her address, the President noted that minerals have shaped human civilisation and industrialisation, but mining can also cause displacement, deforestation, and air and water pollution. She underlined strict compliance with regulations during mining and proper procedures while closing mines. She also highlighted the need to use resources beneath the seafloor while minimising damage to marine biodiversity. For static GK, connect this topic with the Ministry of Mines, national awards, India’s mineral resources, and sustainable mining.