National Geoscience Awards is a central government award scheme run by the Ministry of Mines to honour individuals and teams for their outstanding work in mineral discovery, exploration, mining technology and the geosciences. The Ministry of Mines has now merged the National Geoscience Award with the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), so nominations for the award are handled through the combined national science award process.
The scheme began in 1966 as the National Mineral Awards and was renamed the National Geoscience Awards in 2009 to cover a wider field. As per the latest Ministry of Mines circular, the National Geoscience Award has been merged with the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, which honours scientists, technologists and innovators whose work has helped India's scientific progress. The RVP is administered by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
National Geoscience Awards update
For the 2025 cycle, nominations for the National Geoscience Awards were invited on the official awards portal from 15 November 2025 to 31 December 2025. The RVP 2026 nomination window was open from March 2026 to 11 May 2026. Anyone planning to apply should watch the official awards portal and the Ministry of Mines website for the latest nomination dates under the merged RVP process.
The awards celebrate excellence in the following disciplines:
- Mineral Discovery and Exploration, including work on critical minerals.
- Mining Technology, Mineral Beneficiation and Sustainable Mineral Development.
- Basic Geosciences covering geology, geochemistry, oceanography and polar research.
- Applied Geosciences including geophysics, groundwater, natural hazards and remote sensing.
There are three award categories: the National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement, the National Geoscience Award for individuals or teams, and the National Young Geoscientist Award.
Key Information
| Scheme Name | National Geoscience Awards |
|---|---|
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Agriculture, Rural & Environment, Business & Entrepreneurship |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individuals |
| Benefit Type | In kind |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Mines |
Benefits
Awardees receive a certificate and a plaque in recognition of their professional work. In addition, the award carries a cash prize. The National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement carries a cash prize of ₹5,00,000, the National Geoscience Award carries ₹3,00,000 which is divided equally in case of a team, and the National Young Geoscientist Award carries ₹1,00,000 plus a research grant of ₹5,00,000 spread over five years subject to satisfactory yearly progress.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be Indian citizens and professionally qualified geoscientists, engineers, technologists or academicians.
- Work must have been primarily performed in India within the last ten years, except for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- A team nomination is restricted to a maximum of four members, and the number of team awards shall not exceed five.
- Applicants for the Young Geoscientist Award must be under 35 years of age as of 31 December of the year preceding the application.
- Individuals may receive an award only once in a specific field, though they may apply in different fields.
- Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are not eligible to apply for other categories.
- A certificate from the head of the institution or department supporting the nomination is encouraged but not required.
Application Process
STEP 1 - Visit the official awards portal and register as an individual or organization with your Aadhaar number, contact information and professional credentials.
STEP 2 - Log in with your credentials, select the National Geoscience Awards from the award library, complete the online form with all mandatory information and submit your application before the nomination deadline.
Documents
- Completed application or nomination form.
- Valid proof of Indian citizenship (ID proof).
- Copies of educational and professional qualification certificates.
- Detailed summary of work or achievements in the relevant geoscience field.
- Supporting documents or professional recommendation certificates, if available.
References
- Guidelines for National Geoscience Awards
- Official Application Portal
- PIB explainer on National Geoscience Awards
FAQ's
What are the National Geoscience Awards?
These awards are a government scheme to recognize outstanding contributions in geosciences, mineral exploration and mining technology.
Who manages these awards?
The Ministry of Mines, Government of India, administers the program, and the award has now been merged with the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar.
Who qualifies for these awards?
Any Indian citizen who has made significant contributions in the geosciences or relevant technical fields is eligible to apply.
What are the award categories?
There are three main categories: Lifetime Achievement, National Geoscience Award, and Young Geoscientist Award.
What is the cash prize for these awards?
The Lifetime Achievement Award carries ₹5,00,000, the National Geoscience Award carries ₹3,00,000, and the Young Geoscientist Award carries ₹1,00,000 plus a research grant of ₹5,00,000.
Are team applications accepted?
Yes, teams can apply for the National Geoscience Award, provided the team size does not exceed four members.
Is there an age requirement for the Young Geoscientist Award?
Yes, applicants must be under age 35, calculated as of 31 December of the year before the nomination.
Can I apply for an award if I have won one before?
You cannot receive an award in the same field again, though you may apply for awards in different fields. Lifetime Achievement winners are ineligible for subsequent awards.
Must all work be done in India?
Yes, for most categories, the work must have been primarily conducted within India.
How many awards are granted in total?
Usually 12 awards are presented annually across the different categories, including one Lifetime Achievement and one Young Geoscientist award.