Parliament Question: Implementation of the GSI Next-Generation (NG) Portal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3474 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GSI NEXT-GENERATION (NG) PORTAL 3474. SHRI NARAYANA KORAGAPPA: SHRI SADANAND MHALU SHET TANAVADE: SHRI DEEPAK PRAKASH: SHRI ASHOKRAO SHANKARRAO CHAVAN: Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has successfully launched the GSI Next-Generation (NG) Portal to provide cloud-enabled, AI-based data analysis for mineral exploration; (b) the manner in which National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal improved the Ease of Doing Business; (c) the success milestones of the Tranche-II Exploration Licence (EL) auctions and the number of private firms that have been onboarded for deep-seated mineral search; (d) whether the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) has successfully completed its target of 327 exploration projects as of early 2026; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL AND MINES (SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY) (a): Yes. The Next-Generation (NG) Portal of Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been launched on 12.02.2026. (b): The National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) portal hosts over 18,400 exploration and baseline reports along with 47 map services as well as spatial data layers generated by various stakeholder agencies. The NGDR portal has improved the Ease of Doing Business by providing a centralized digital platform for seamless and free access to geoscience & mineral exploration reports and datasets on a single geospatial platform to both public and private stakeholders, thereby enhancing data accessibility and transparency. The portal is widely utilized by the Notified Exploration Agencies including private exploration agencies, for informed decision-making in developing new exploration project proposals for submission to National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT) for funding. Further, the NGDR portal is also used by bidders of Composite Licence (CL) and Exploration Licence (EL) to analyse and ascertain the prospects of the CL/EL blocks before submission of their bids. (c): The Tranche-II for EL blocks was launched on 12.02.2026.(d) and (e): Yes. As on 15.03.2026, 327 projects have been completed through funding by the NMEDT. The details of these projects are as follows: S.No. Nature of Project No. of Projects 1. Baseline Survey projects 09 2. Mineral exploration projects 302 3. Procurement of machinery/ laboratory equipment/ instruments, etc. 13 4. Research and innovation projects under S&T PRISM Scheme of the 02 Ministry of Mines 5. Special studies for recycling of critical minerals 01 Total 327 *****