Dinesh Ganvir takes charge as 55th head of the Geological Survey of India

Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir has taken charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the Ministry of Mines' attached office, and says finding critical and strategic minerals will be a priority.

Ganvir joined GSI on 1 July 1994 after a Master's degree in geology from RTMNU, Nagpur, and has worked in its Central, North-Eastern and Northern regions for more than 32 years. Before this post he was Additional Director General and head of the Central Region in Nagpur, with additional charge as National Mission Head-II.

His record on minerals

As National Mission Head-II, Ganvir was associated with planning nationwide mineral exploration, including what the ministry describes as "a five fold jump in investigations for critical and strategic minerals in recent time". The release says he facilitated the handover of 359 geological reports and 377 geological memoranda. Of these, 202 blocks were for critical minerals, and 40 have been auctioned. A further 56 blocks under the Exploration Licence regime were handed over, and 11 have been auctioned, under Tranches I and II.

Priorities

• Intensify exploration for critical and strategic minerals through advanced mineral prospectivity mapping and "auction-ready" blocks.
• Use emerging technologies and data analytics along with field work, and strengthen laboratories and offshore exploration.
• Continue GSI's work on landslide early warning, glacial studies, infrastructure projects and hazard assessment.

The release says these efforts support mineral security and cutting import dependence. It does not name his predecessor or give a tenure.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Mines, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (01 NOV 2026 3:10PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Shri Dinesh V. Ganvir Takes Charge as Director General of GSI; Reaffirms Focus on Mineral Security, Scientific Excellence and Technological Advancement.