NATIONAL GEOSCIENCE DATA DEPOSITORY PORTAL

Why in news: Ministry of Mines launched NGDR portal

NGDR PORTAL

Spearheaded by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Bhaskarachaya Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N), this online platform aims to provide comprehensive access to geospatial information nationwide. The initiative represents a significant step toward democratizing critical geoscience data, fostering innovation in exploration, and empowering stakeholders in various industries and academia.

The portal has been created as a part of the National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP), 2016.

About National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP) 2016:

It seeks to boost exploration in India by encouraging private-sector involvement. Key features include auctioning exploration blocks for private sector involvement with revenue sharing, creating public geoscientific data, and mapping the entire country using low-altitude and close space flights for precise location of minerals like gold, silver, copper, etc.

About GSI:

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) (HQ: Kolkata) is a scientific agency founded in 1851 under the Ministry of Mines. It conducts geological surveys and studies, providing essential earth science information to government, industry, and the public. As one of the world’s oldest organizations of its kind, GSI actively participates in various industries and international geoscientific forums.

About BISAG-N

The Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) is an autonomous scientific society supporting technology development, research, and cooperation in the geospatial technology domain. It is an agency of the Department of Science and Technology Government of Gujarat, located at Gandhinagar, Gujarat