Geological Survey of India (GSI) commenced its international activities by the close of 19th century. These activities are being continued in accordance with the charter relating to the functions and responsibilities of the GSI, which demands GSI to generally liaison with similar organisations abroad including international scientific bodies and sister institutions in the country engaged in earth science research. GSI thus, deals with collaborative and bilateral exchange programmes and also scientific projects with several scientific bodies / organizations / agencies abroad and foreign Government organisations. It also participates in international seminars, symposia and workshops and advanced foreign training programmes. In 1965 International Wing (rechristened as International Division) was set up to discharge multifarious responsibilities of the Department in matters pertaining to the domain of international activity.
International activities by GSI include some landmark events, which helped in recognition of GSI’s contribution in the field of geology. Mention may be made about the organisation of the 22nd International Geological Congress, which was held in Delhi in 1964 for the first time in Asia. Subsequently a number of International Seminars were organised by the International Division of GSI, the most important being the International Gondwana Symposium in Calcutta (4th International Gondwana Symposium in 1977) and Hyderabad (9th International Gondwana Symposium in 1994) and the International Himalayan Geology Conference at Delhi in 1976. International Division also organised the Fourth South Asia Geological Congress (GEOSAS-IV) at New Delhi in November 2002.
India is one of the countries, which participate in International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP; renamed as International Geoscience Programme) jointly established by UNESCO and IUGS in 1972. The activities of the IGCP projects in India are monitored by a duly constituted Indian National Committee (INC) for the IGCP of which the Director General, GSI is the Ex-officio Chairman. The International Division of GSI acts as the Secretariat and the Director,International Division is the Member Secretary of the INC. Other members of the INC include eminent geoscientists from Atomic Minerals Division, National Geophysical Research Institute, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and from different reputed Universities / Institutes. The INC identifies already approved projects by the IGCP Scientific Board for Indian participation every year and monitors the progress of on-going projects. The INC also recommends new project proposals to the IGCP Scientific Board for implementation. India has participated in a number of IGCP Projects dealing with varied aspects of earth science. A list of such projects is given below:
IGCP Project No.
Project Title
Duration
2
Correlation of Precambrian in Mobile Zones
1974-1980
4/106
Triassic of the Tethyan Realm
1976-1982 OET 1985
22
Precambrian in Younger Folded Belts
1974-1980
26
Mineralisation Associated with Acid Magmatism
1974-1982
29
Precambrian-Correlation Boundary
1974-1982 OET 1985
32
Stratigraphic Correlation between Sedimentary basins of ESCAP Region
1974-1982 OET
38
Pre-Pleistocene Tillites
1974-1980
39
Ophiolites
1974-1980
41
Neogene-Quaternary Boundary
1974-1984
91
Metallogeny of the Precambrian
1974-1985
92
Archaean Geochemistry
1976-1983
107
Global Correlation of Epochs of Tectonogenesis
1976-1980
111
Genesis of Manganese Ore Deposits
1976-1985
118
Upper Precambrian Correlation
1976-1980
129
Lateritisation Processes
1975-1983
134
Remote Sensing and Mineral Exploration
1976-1982
148
Quantitative Stratigraphic Correlation Techniques
1976-1983 OET 1984
156
Phosphorites
1977-1984 OET 1988
163
Design and Generation of World Data Base for Igneous Petrology (IGBA)
1977-1984
215
Proterozoic Fold Belts
1984-1989 OET 1990
216
Global Biological Events in Earth History
1984-1989 OET 1991
217
Proterozoic Geochemistry
1984-1990
218
Quaternary Process and Events in South East Asia
1984-1988
219
Comparative Lacustrine Sedimentology
1984-1988 OET 1990
226
Correlation of Manganese Sedimentation of palaeoenvironments
1986-1990 OET 1991
236
Precambrian Events in Gondwana Fragments
1985-1988 OET 1989
237
Gondwana Floras
1986-1990 OET 1991
245
Non Marine Cretaceous Correlations
1986-1991
247
Precambrian Ore Deposits related to Tectonic Styles
1986-1990 OET 1992
254
Metalliferous Black Shales
1987-1991 OET 1992
257
Precambrian Dyke Swarms
1987-1991
261
Stromatolites
1987-1991 OET 1992
256
Ophiolite Genesis and Evolution of Oceanic Lithosphere
1988-1992
259
International Geochemical Mapping
1988-1992
269
A Global Database in Sedimentary Petrology
1988-1992
274
Coastal Evolution in the Quaternary
1988-1992 OET 1993
276
Palaeozoic in the Tethys
1988-1992 OET 1993
280
The Oldest Rocks on Earth
1988-1992 OET 1993
288
Gondwanaland Sutures and Fold Belts
1990-1994 OET 1996
290
Anorthosites and Related Rocks
1990-94
293
Geochemical Event Markers in the Phanerozoic
1990-1993
303
Precambrian-Cambrian Events Stratigraphy
1990-1993
304
Lower Crustal Processes
1990-1994
308
Palaeocene/ Eocene Boundary Events
1990-1994
314
Alkaline and Carbonatitic Magmatism of Earth and Related Ore Deposits
1991-1995
317
Correlation of Continental Ancient Surfaces and their Weathering Record
1992-1995 OET 1996
318
Genesis and Correlation of Marine Polymetallic Oxides
1992-1995
319
Global Palaeogeography and Early Palaeozoic
1992-1996
325
Correlation of Palaeogeography with Phosphorites and Associated Authigenic Sediments
1992-1995
328
Palaeozoic Microvertebrates
1992-1995 OET 1996
329
Paleaogeographic and Palaeoecologic Evolution of Paratethyan Basins during Neogene and their Correlation to Global Scale
1992-1996 OET 1997
336
Petrology and Mineralogy of Intraplate Mafic and Ultramafic Magmatism
1992-1996
339
Correlation of Modern Geomagnetic Data in the Region of Geomagnetic Equator
1992-1995
349
Desert Margins and Palaeomonsoons since 135 Kyr B.P.
1993-1997
350
Cretaceous Environmental Change in E & S Asia
1993-1997 OET 1998
357
Organics and Mineral Deposits
1993-1997
D 360
Global Geochemical Base Lines
1993-1997
367
Late Quaternary Coastal Records of Rapid Changes
1994-1998
368
Proterozoic Events in East Gondwana
1995-1999
D 374
Palaeoclimatology and Palaeoceanography from Laminated Sediments
1994-1998
380
Biosedimentology and Correlation of Microbial Build-ups
1995-1999
396
Continental Shelves in the Quaternary
1996-2000
D 405
Anthropogenic Impact on Weathering processes
1996-2000
D 373
Correlation, Anatomy and Magmatic Hydrothermal Evolution of the Ore Bearing Igneous Systems in Eurasia
1997-2001
413
Understanding Future Dryland Environmental Changes from Past Dynamics
1998-2002
414
Seismic Ground Motion in Large Urban Areas
1997-2001
411
Geodynamics of Gondwana Land Derived Terranes in E & S Asia
1998-2002
425
Landslide Hazard Assessment and Cultural Heritage
1998-2002
426
Granite Systems and Proterozoic Lithospheric Processes
1998-2002
*430
Mantle Dynamics and Natural Hazards
2000-2004
*440
Rodinia Assembly and Breakup
1999-2003
*434
Land Ocean Interactions during the Cretaceous in Asia
1999-2003
*449
Global correlation of Late Cenozoic Fluvial Deposits
2000-2004
*453
Modern and Ancient orogens
2000-2004
*454
Medical Geology
2000-2004
*464
Continental Shelf During Last Glacial Cycles: Knowledge and Application
2001-2005
*463
Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds
2002-2006
*467
triassic Time
2002-2006
*470
The 600 Ma Pan-African Belt of Central Africa
2002-2006
474
Depth Images of the Earth’s Crust
2003-2007
475
Deltas in Monsoon Asia-Pacific Region (Delta MA)
2003-2007
476
Monsoon Evolution and Tectonics-climate Linkage in Asia
2003-2007
490
Environmental Catastrophes
2003-2007
493
The Rise and Fall of the Vendian Biota
2003-2007
495
Quaternary Land–Ocean Interactions: Driving Mechanisms And Coastal Responses
2004-2008
500
Dryland Change: Past, Present, Future
2004-2008
502
Global Comparison of Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulphide Districts: The Controls on Distribution and Timing of VMS Deposits
2004-2008
* Currently in Operation
D Discontinued
OET On Extended Term
31st ANNUAL THE MEETING OF INDIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE (INC)
The 31st Annual Meeting of the INC for the IGCP was held on 24th January 2006 in the CHQ, GSI, Kolkata. The work carried out under the on-going IGCP Projects taken up in India was highlighted and IGCP India Newsletter 25 was released. The INC has considered the following nine new projects for Indian participation:
IGCP - 506:
Marine and Non-marine Jurassic: Global correlation and major geological events
IGCP - 509:
Palaeoproterozoic Supercontinents And Global Evolution: A Complete Tectonic Cycle Representing The Evolving Core, Mantle, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, And Biosphere
IGCP - 510:
Global Correlation of A-type Granites and Related Rocks, their Mineralization, and Significance in Lithospheric Evolution
IGCP - 511:
Submarine Mass Movements and Their Consequences
IGCP - 512:
A new global synthesis on neoproterozoic ice ages, their correlation, ages, duration, areal extent, geological setting, related ore genesis, causes and effects
IGCP - 513:
Global Study of Karst Aquifers and Water Resources
IGCP - 516:
Geological Anatomy of East and South Asia: Paleogeography and Paleoenvironment in Eastern Tethys
IGCP - 522:
Dawn of the Danian (65-61 Ma): Post K-T Boundary Austral Biotic Survivorship and Recovery in a ‘Brave New World’
IGCP - 523:
Global Ground Water Network for Best Practices in Ground Water Management in Developing Countries.
GSI is continuing its participation in collaborative programmes with numerous foreign Government agencies. Some of such important on-going co-operation programmes are enumerated below:
India-France
GSI and BRGM, France entered into collaborative ventures in the field of mineral exploration and development in the late 1980s under the aegis of the Indo-France Working Group on Mineral Exploration and development as per Indo-France Protocol. Since then a number of geoscientific investigations have been successfully completed.
GSI has adopted itself with the present information technology system. Electronic data processing dissemination system has been developed through GSI-BRGM collaborative mega project.
Indo-French Expert Level Meeting was held at New Delhi on 24th & 25th November 2005 wherein discussions were held about the three project proposals viz.
Seismic Hazard Assessment and Active Fault Related Studies
Development of an Early Warning System for the Landslides and
Geo-environmental Studies for Coastal Zone Management
Supply of Oceanographic Equipment & Technical Scientific Assistance to the Indian Programme of Seabed Investigation in the EEZ of India
CESMAT Fellowship Programme
Supply of Laboratory Equipment to GSI (EPMA)
India-Canada
As per the MOU signed on 1st April 2003 between the Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India and the Department of Natural Resources, Canada (NRCan), the following proposals were considered:
Studies on public health hazard problems due to arsenic toxicity in groundwater in parts of West Bengal.
Crustal Evolution Studies in Pre-Cambrian Shield of Eastern, Central and Western India
India-Australia
In the 1st meeting of the Indo-Australia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Energy and Minerals held in April 2000 at Sydney, Australia, areas of co-operation were identified including potential areas for investment in exploration in diamond, coal, copper, lead and zinc, fertilizer minerals, manganese ores, nickel and cobalt.
The 2nd and 3rd meetings of the JWG were held at New Delhi in May 2001 and in Australia in January 2003 respectively
In the 4th JWG meeting of JWG was held at New Delhi in June 2005, the following proposals were submitted by GSI:
Collaboration programme for search of Ni in ophoiolite belts/ concealed ultramafic bodies
Collaboration programme for Testing Kimberlite/ Lamproite bodies for search of diamond
India-SouthAfrica
As per the agreement for cooperation signed in October 1997 between India and South Africa, the following two collaborative programmes are in an advanced stage of implementation:
The stratigraphic correlation between Karoo Supergroup of South Africa and Gondwana sequence of India
Development of a Precambrian Crustal Evaluation and Metallogeny of Peninsular India and Eastern/Southern Africa.
India-Netherlands
A MOU between GSI and ITC, the Netherlands was signed in July 2004 for extension of the project INDIGEO (Phase - II) for a period of 3 years upto July 2007, which will focus on manpower development in geosciences.
Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India has approved a proposal for joint collaboration among GSI-NRSA-ITC on ‘Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessment.
India-Russia
Collaboration between India and Russia has been continued under the Integrated Long Term Programme (ILTP) of cooperation in science and technology.
India-China
In accordance with the MOU signed between MOM, Govt. of India and Ministry of Land Resources, People’s Republic of China in September 2005, proposals on the following fields of mutual interest were sent to Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India.
Technology transferring and training programme regarding modern geological mapping
Active fault mapping under seismic hazard assessment
Development of Geological database and Geographic Information System and their implementation in resources administration
Utility of low-grade deposits viz. nickel, gold, basemetal, cesium
India-Japan
Subsequent to the Joint Indo-Japan Workshop held in March 2005 at NGRI, Hyderabad to discuss the various aspects related to tsunami, six major areas of common interest were identified along with possible participating organisations in India. Paleo-tsunami deposits / Paleo-seismology for estimation of recurrence history was identified as one of the areas of research and GSI, has been identified as one of the lead agencies for this project.
India-Iran
A short note on following projects was submitted to Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India in connection with 15th Joint Commission Session meeting to be held at Tehran, Iran:
Comparative study of the evolution of platformal - Miogeosyanclinal to Eugeosyanclinal phases including Zagros range and Himalayan range
Late Mesocainozoic volcano - Magmatic and ophiolite emplacement and its bearing on mineralisation
In the marine domain, synthesis of data of Arabian sea with that of Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf including joint cruises
India-Nepal
A MOU has been finalized for providing consultancy services to carryout geological/ geotechnical investigations for the Sapta Kosi and Sun Kosi projects, Nepal. Ministry’s concurrence is awaited.
India-Bhutan
Geotechnical investigation at Tala Hydroelectric Project by GSI experts has been continued.
On the request of WAPCOS, GSI has agreed to prepare a DPR on the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project and provide technical experts to carryout geotechnical investigations of the Project, whenever required.
Since 1981, GSI as a lead agency has made valuable contribution to the geology of Antarctica region - being the coldest and the most inaccessible continent of the earth. The Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica for conducting fundamental research in several fields of earth, atmosphere and biological sciences, commenced with launching of – MV Polar Circle on 6th December 1981 have since created an unique example of inter-disciplinary endeavour in science and logistics in one of the most hostile part of the earth where average thickness of ice cover is about 1.6 km. The first landing team and the second expedition in the Antarctica were led by GSI Geologists. There after several expeditions were led by GSI geologist. The International Division monitors the activities of GSI in Antarctica which include regional geological studies, glaciological studies and logistic assistance to National Antarctica Programme
GSI being one of the statutory members of the Commission of Geological Map of the World (CGMW) since Nineteen Sixties, took lead role in compilation of (i) Geological Map of South and East Asia (1:5 million scale, printed by CGMW); (ii) Tectonic Map of South and East Asia (1:5 million scale, printed by CGMW) and (iii) Tectonic map of India and adjoining countries (1:7.5 million scale, printed by GSI). Currently (since 2004), GSI has undertaken the task of compiling the geological map of South Asia (IGMA - 5000) and adjoining off-shore areas.
The International Division also extends its services in processing/ monitoring the cases of participation of GSI scientists in International seminars/ symposia/ training/ technical meetings, etc. and also visits of foreign geoscientists to GSI. Issue of ‘No Objection Certificate’ for obtaining passport for foreign visits, is also a routine activity of the International Division.
The abovementioned international activities need necessary interaction with the concerned Ministry, Government of India, which falls under the functions and responsibilities of the International Division.
Contact Information
E-mail:indiv_gsi@vsnl.net, indiv_gsi@dataone.in
Telefax:+91-33-2252 0936
Postal Address: Director, International Division, 27 J.L. Nehru Road, Kolkata - 700 016, West Bengal, India. Phone: +91-33-2252 0936
Disclaimer: Endeavour has been made to make available updated, correct and accurate information. The errors, if any, whenever brought to notice will be rectified. But, the Ministry/Department will accept no responsibility and liability, of whatever nature, for the correctness of the material on website. In this regard, the users are advised to verify, in their own interest, the correctness of the facts from the concerned official or person.
