Palaeontology Divisions of GSI carry out research works focusing on the early organic evolution, biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of the Proterozoic era, study of the terrestrial vertebrate community of the Early Triassic, documentation of the faunal turnover and environment shift across the Cretaceous - Tertiary and Eocene - Oligocene boundaries, palynostratigraphy of the Gondwana and Tertiary coastal lignitiferous sediments and studies on the late Quaternary fossils. Apart from the Central palaeontology Laboratories, each region has its laboratory engaged in research work. Sub-units of these Laboratories include Invertebrate, Vertebrate, Micropalaeontology, Palaeobotany and Palynology units. Palaeontological Laboratories provided enormous data to build up the Phanerozoic biostratigraphic framework of the Indian geology especially for Himalaya and Gondwana.

The Ichnology laboratory is the latest addition to the GSI stable. Growing interest and importance of trace fossils and their modern analogues in the field of environment, ecology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, palaeontology and geotechnology have prompted in initiating ichnological and neoichnological studies in GSI.
The palaeontology laboratories are open to collaborative research work with other agencies

Significant Achievements:

• Discovery of cyanobacteria in the BHJ of Orissa, pushes back the date of photosynthesis to at least 3.2 Ga.
• Precambrian-Cambrian boundary has been demarcated in the Krol belt of UP & HP. Himalaya on the basis of cyanobacteria, calcareous algae & shelly microfauna and ichnological study.
• Discovery of the dinosaurian bones from different horizons of Gujarat and A.P. Dinosaur nests of megallotithed affinity and a possible tract site have been located in the Lameta sediments which ultimately aims to understanding the palaeobiology of the dinosaurs.
• Avian Tibio-tarsal has been recorded in the Quaternary vertebrate assemblage of Pampa river basin of south India.
• Discovery of the marine fossils within Gondwana sediments helped in palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Indian sub-continent during Gondwana period.
• Micropalaeontological research dictated to resolve some tectonostratigraphic problems of India.
• Palynological studies have established biozonations of Gondwana and Tertiary sequence of India.

• Identification of both mega & microfossil.
• Interpretation on the palaeo-biotic assemblage, in terms of palaeoecology & palaeo-environment.
• Provide casts, moulds of fossils on the basis of nominal charges. Also provide models of extinct megafossils.
• Training to the students of different institutions and organisations on bio-stratigraphy and all aspects of palaeontology.
• Training on techniques of preparation of microfossil slide; proceedings of separation of forms from rocks and their picking, cataloguing and maintenance.