New Delhi: The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in geoscience, mineral exploration and disaster management through next-generation digital technologies.
The MoU was signed at Electronics Niketan, New Delhi, in the presence of MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan. It was signed by E. Magesh, Director General, C-DAC, and Pradeep Singh, Additional Director General, GSI.
AI and High-Performance Computing to Drive Geoscience Applications
The partnership seeks to combine C-DAC’s expertise in High-Performance Computing (HPC) with GSI’s geological knowledge to address complex sub-surface exploration challenges using advanced digital technologies.
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According to the Ministry, the collaboration will focus on:
- Processing large geophysical datasets using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and HPC.
- Developing high-resolution 3D subsurface mapping.
- Enabling predictive modelling for mineral targeting.
- Converting decades of unstructured geological records into a domain-specific Large Language Model (LLM) through cognitive processing.
The initiative aims to improve the accuracy, efficiency and speed of geological exploration while supporting data-driven decision-making.
Partnership to Strengthen Disaster Management
Beyond mineral exploration, the collaboration will support disaster mitigation by deploying advanced technologies for monitoring and early warning.
Key focus areas include:
- Slope-scale landslide monitoring using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
- Development of early warning systems.
- Studies on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
The Ministry said these initiatives are expected to strengthen disaster preparedness and improve resilience against natural hazards.
Focus on Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements
The partnership also seeks to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs), which are essential for clean energy technologies, electronics and strategic industries.
According to the Ministry, strengthening exploration capabilities will contribute to India’s economic security, supply chain resilience and technological self-reliance.
Strengthening Digital Innovation in Earth Sciences
The collaboration is expected to integrate advanced computing technologies with geological expertise to strengthen geoscience applications, accelerate mineral discovery and improve disaster management in the country.
By combining artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and geoscience expertise, the partnership is expected to support scientific research, improve resource mapping and enhance India’s preparedness for geological and climate-related challenges.
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