The Ministry of Mines's Geological Survey of India (GSI) has refuted allegations of discrimination by India's central government against Punjab state in potash exploration activities. GSI explains that their decisions are strictly based on scientific evidence, geological data, and their technoeconomic feasibility studies, not regional preferences. Since 1985-86, the GSI has conducted five potash exploration projects in Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka districts of Punjab, which revealed significant depth ranges for potential potash mineralization between 630 and 770 meters. In the current field season (2025-26), GSI is working on two new exploration projects at RajpuraRajawali and GidranwaliAzimgarh blocks in Fazilka District, covering a total of 128 sq. km area with extensive drilling activities spanning six boreholes. These projects were initiated based on the Punjab government's request during a meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) held in January 2025.
GSI acknowledges that it utilizes additional geological and geophysical surveys to identify mineralized zones due to the prevalence of thick soil and Quaternary sediments in the region. Emphasizing its commitment to India's overall mineral development, GSI addresses the public to understand that potash exploration is a technical process based on solid scientific evidence, considering resource viability and national priorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Mines: The Indian government ministry under which the Geological Survey of India (GSI) operates.
Geological Survey of India: A premier scientific agency under the Ministry of Mines, responsible for geological surveys and exploration in India (GSI).
GSI: Abbreviation for Geological Survey of India.
Punjab: A state in India where potash exploration is being conducted by the GSI.
The Morning Standard: A newspaper that published claims about discrimination in potash exploration in Punjab.
7th May 2025: Date when the article in 'The Morning Standard' was published.
Potash reserve found, AAP Govt. says Centre discriminating on exploration: Caption of the news item published in the newspaper 'The Morning Standard'.
NagaurGanganagar Evaporite Basin NGEB: A geological formation containing potash deposits, primarily located in Rajasthan with an extension into Punjab.
Rajasthan: A state in India where the majority of the NagaurGanganagar Evaporite Basin NGEB is located.
Ferozepur: A district in Punjab where GSI has conducted exploration projects.
Sri Muktsar Sahib: A district in Punjab where GSI has conducted exploration projects.
Fazilka: A district in Punjab where GSI has conducted exploration projects.
Field Season 202526: The current field season during which GSI is undertaking exploration projects in RajpuraRajawali and GidranwaliAzimgarh blocks.
RajpuraRajawali: One of the two blocks in Fazilka District, Punjab, where GSI has initiated G4 stage exploration projects.
GidranwaliAzimgarh: One of the two blocks in Fazilka District, Punjab, where GSI has initiated G4 stage exploration projects.
Government of Punjab: The state government of Punjab, which requested the potash exploration projects.
64th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board CGPB: Meeting where the Government of Punjab requested the potash exploration projects.
CGPB: Central Geological Programming Board.
January 2025: Date of the 64th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board CGPB.
Bhubaneswar: Location of the 64th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board CGPB.
National Geophysical Mapping Programme NGPM: A GSI program under which gravitymagnetic surveys are being undertaken to delineate mineralised zones.
NGPM: Abbreviation for National Geophysical Mapping Programme.
Shuhaib T: Name of the individual associated with the press release.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - the source of the press release.
08 MAY 2025: Date of publication of the press release.
Ministry of Mines
Rebuttal to Allegations of Discrimination in Potash
Exploration in Punjab
Posted On: 08 MAY 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) strongly refutes the recent claims made in the newspaper “The Morning
Standard” on 7th May 2025, under the caption “Potash reserve found, AAP Govt. says Centre discriminating
on exploration.” GSI clarifies that decisions on exploration activities, including those pertaining to potash, are
based entirely on scientific merit, geological data, and techno-economic feasibility—not on regional
preferences.
GSI, a premier scientific agency under the Ministry of Mines, has been undertaking potash exploration in
Punjab as part of its long-term national strategy. Potash-bearing formations in Punjab are part of the larger
Nagaur-Ganganagar Evaporite Basin (NGEB), the majority of which lies in Rajasthan, with a smaller
extension into Punjab.
GSI has carried out five reconnaissance (G4 stage) exploration projects in the districts of Ferozepur, Sri
Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka in Punjab since 1985-86. These studies revealed the presence of potash
mineralization at significant depths ranging from 630 to 770 metres, primarily associated with halite, clay, and
dolomite.
Two new G4 stage exploration projects have been taken up by GSI in the current Field Season 2025-26 in
Rajpura-Rajawali and Gidranwali-Azimgarh blocks, Fazilka District, Punjab, covering 128 sq. km with
5100m of drilling across six boreholes. These projects were initiated based on the request of the Government
of Punjab during the 64th meeting of the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB), held in January
2025 at Bhubaneswar clearly demonstrating the GSI’s responsiveness to State inputs.
Exploration work in these two blocks is currently in progress, and based on the outcome and promising
indicators, GSI will consider scaling up these blocks to G3 and G2 stages in future programmes. Additionally,
GSI is undertaking gravity-magnetic surveys under its National Geophysical Mapping Programme (NGPM) in
the region to delineate mineralised zones, given that the area is mostly covered by thick soil and Quaternary
sediments.
GSI reaffirms its commitment to the mineral development of all Indian states, including Punjab. In addition to
the ongoing potash projects, GSI has regularly included Punjab in its national exploration strategy.
GSI urges all stakeholders to appreciate that scientific exploration is a technical endeavour driven by
geological evidence, resource viability, and national priorities.
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Shuhaib T
(Release ID: 2127693)