India to Host International Geological Congress in March 2020

New Delhi: India will host the 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) in the capital during the first week of March 2020. The theme of the forthcoming conference is ‘Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Development’. Popularly described as the Olympics of Geosciences, the IGC is a prestigious global geoscientific event held once every four years and witnessing participation of around 5,000-6,000 geoscientists from across the world.

In a bid to gear up for the event, a half-day interactive workshop was held in New Delhi yesterday which was inaugurated by the Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr. M. Rajeevan, and Secretary Coal & Mines, Anil Kumar Jain.

Speaking on the occasion, Jain said that the 36th IGC is expected to provide a platform for international cooperation in all major field of geosciences including launching of collaborative programs, provision of investment opportunities in mining, mineral exploration and environmental management and related enterprises.

Dr. M. Rajeevan said that the forthcoming IGC would help in dealing with the problems of sustainability, energy crisis, water crisis, climate change, environmental issues and resource management.

Noting the highlights of the forthcoming IGC, it was said that it has an exhaustive Science program and an impressive range of field excursions. A state-of-the-art geo exposition will be held alongside the Congress where leading companies in the mines and mineral sector will showcase their products and services. Considering the scale and importance of the event, an emphatic participation from states was sought as they stand to benefit immensely from the scientific conclave, said the Ministry of Mines in a Press communication.

India is the only Asian country to host the event twice. India had first hosted the 22nd IGC in 1964. The event was inaugurated by the then President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The IGC is making a comeback to Indian soil after 56 long years.

The event is being funded by the Ministry of Mines (MoM) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with the support of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the national Science Academies of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Geological Survey of India is the nodal agency for organizing the event.

The interactive half day conference held in the capital was attended by Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines; Padma Shri V.P. Dimri, President, 36th IGC; and Alok Chandra, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Mines. The workshop was also attended by senior officers of 14 State Governments.

Source: Indus Dictum

Image Courtesy: Geoethics