Varsha Ashok Aglawe Becomes First Woman DG of Geological Survey of India

Varsha Ashok Aglawe has assumed charge as the 54th Director General (DG) of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), becoming the first woman to head the country’s premier geoscientific organisation in its 176-year history.

About Varsha Ashok Aglawe

Varsha Ashok Aglawe is a distinguished geoscientist with over three decades of experience in geological research, mineral exploration and scientific administration. 

• She joined the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 1992 after beginning her career with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). 
• Before becoming the 54th Director General of GSI, she served as Additional Director General and Head of Department, Eastern Region, Kolkata.
• She has served in scientific and administrative roles across the Central, Northern and Eastern Regions of GSI, as well as at its Central Headquarters.
• She has led multidisciplinary geoscientific programmes related to geological mapping, mineral exploration and Earth science research.
• She is an expert in palaeontology (the study of fossils) and palynology (the study of pollen, spores and other microscopic organic remains).
• She has conducted significant research on Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene sediments, the K-T (Cretaceous-Tertiary) boundary, and the Satpura-Gondwana Basins
• She identified the Salbardi-Ghorpend area in central India as a new dinosaur nesting site, making an important contribution to India’s vertebrate palaeontology.
• She established a state-of-the-art Palynology Laboratory at GSI’s Northern Region office in Lucknow, strengthening the organisation’s research capabilities.
• She collaborated with the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology (USA) on international paleontological research and represented GSI at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention 2023 in Toronto.

As Director General, she has prioritised the exploration of critical and strategic minerals, advanced geophysical techniques for discovering deep-seated and offshore mineral deposits, stronger geoscientific research, and capacity building for young geoscientists.

About Geological Survey of India (GSI)

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is India’s premier geoscientific organisation responsible for geological mapping, mineral exploration and Earth science research.

• Established: 1851, making it one of India’s oldest scientific organisations.
• Administrative Ministry: It functions as a subordinate office under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Major Functions: It undertakes geological mapping, mineral exploration, geochemical and geophysical surveys, marine and polar geoscientific studies, geological hazard assessment and geoscientific data generation.
• Role: It provides scientific inputs for mineral resource assessment, critical mineral exploration, disaster risk reduction and evidence-based policymaking.

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