New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu will present the National Geoscience Awards (NGA) 2024 at a ceremonial function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre here on September 26.

Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Minister of State Satish Chandra Dubey will also attend.

Instituted in 1966, the awards—earlier known as National Mineral Awards—are among the country's oldest honours in geosciences. They recognise outstanding contributions in mineral discovery, mining technology, mineral beneficiation, applied and basic geosciences.

For 2024, the Ministry of Mines received 208 nominations. After a three-stage selection process, 12 awards—nine individual and three team awards—have been finalised, covering fields such as mineral exploration, mining technology, oceanography, applied geology, and natural hazard studies. A total of 20 geoscientists will be honoured.

Prof. Shyam Sundar Rai, Senior Scientist at INSA and Visiting Professor at IISER Pune, will receive the National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement for his exemplary contributions to the discipline.

The National Young Geoscientist Award will go to Shri Susobhan Neogi, Senior Geologist at the Geological Survey of India, for his outstanding work in the field.

The event will be attended by leading geoscientists, policymakers, and scholars from across the country.