Modernisation of Geological Survey of India and Shortage of manpower: Rajya Sabha Q&A

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-697

Modernisation of GSI

697 . SHRIMATI JAYA BACHCHAN

(a) whether the Geological Survey of India(GSI) is facing the shortage of manpower and modern machineries and techniques;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government has taken any steps to modernise GSI; and 

(d) if so, the details thereof?

(a)&(b) Geological Survey of India (GSI) is facing shortage of manpower at present. Details of the sanctioned and filled in strengths of GSI are given in the Annexure – I.

Regarding modern machineries and techniques, GSI is presently equipped with several precision equipments for carrying out ground, aerial and marine surveys and analyses of rocks and minerals. However, development of equipment and technology is a dynamic process which continuously changes with new technology and more high precision equipments which are developed through advanced research. GSI tries to keep abreast of these new developments in Geosciences. 

(c)&(d) The Government of India, Ministry of Mines had formed a High Power Committee (HPC) to examine and restructure GSI to make it a world class organization. The HPC recommendations were approved by the Cabinet on 25.10.2011. With the recommendation of HPC, GSI was reorganized in the Mission –Region –Hybrid Matrix Mode. Further the sanctioned strength of manpower was increased from 11,420 to 12,369. GSI is taking action to fill up the vacancies in a phased manner which is to be completed by 2018. The additional manpower will enable GSI to take up more programmes in the quest for new mineral resources and carry out research programmes for the development of geosciences as well as for societal benefits.

Steps have been taken by the Government to make GSI a world class organization with cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art equipments. Towards this end Ministry of Mines on 30.6.2009 had formed a Modernization Committee to look into the requirements of technology and equipments for GSI. The Modernization Committee submitted its report after peer reviewing in August, 2011 for implementation. GSI is carrying out its modernization according to the projections made in the Modernization Committee Report. Details of planned technology infusion are given in the Annexure – II.
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STATUS OF SANCTIONED & FILLED IN STRENGTH OF VARIOUS STREAMS IN GSI AS ON 30.06.2013

Stream		Sanctioned strength**				Filled in strength
		Gr. A	Gr. B (including NG)	Gr.C	Total	Gr. A	Gr. B [G+ NG]	Gr.C	Total
S&T (a)	Geology	2786	660	150	3596	1680	3+109 =112	76	1868
	Geophysics	555	220	70	845	184	4+22 = 26	34	244
	Chemistry	509	315	150	974	175	14+101 =115	78	368
	Engineering	90	416	744	1250	54	15+226 =241	409	704
	Total (a)	3940	1611	1114	6665	2093	36+458 =494	597	3184
Other streams	Stores	9	226	240	475	7	46+117 =163	16	186
	Survey	31	319	–	350	7	30+115 =145	—	152
	Drawing	–	118	50	168	–	8+299 =307	38	345
	Transport	–	320	480	800	–	0 + 58 =58	628	686
	Finance	33	30	–	63	3	0+ 2 = 2	—	5
	Personnel	52	646	595	1293	29	64+142 =206	952	1187
	Stenography	2	250	90	342	–	32+138 =170	10	180
	Misc	13	200	2000	2213	5	2+56 = 58	1758	1821
	Total	140	2109	3455	5704	51	182+ 927=1109	3402	4562
	G. Total	4080	3720	4569	12369	2144	1603	3999	7746

G – Gazetted, NG – Non-Gazetted, Gr. – Group

** Sanctioned strength as per the Cabinet approval issued vide GSI Notification dated 29.12.2011 and is expected to be achieved by 2018.

PLANNED TECHNOLOGY INFUSION DURING XII FIVE YEAR PLAN PERIOD

	Activity	Technology Infusion in XII plan period
1	GEOLOGICAL MAPPING	Instrument Quantity Research polarizing microscope 2 nos. Electron probe Micro Analyser ( EPMA) 2 nos. Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) 1 no. Ash content Analyzer 1 no. Bomb Calorimeter 1 no.
	GEOCHEMICAL MAPPING	Atomic Absorption Spectrometer ( AAS) ( Higher Version) (replacement) 10 nos. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS ) (replacement) 2 nos. Gas Chromatograph 1 no. Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA) (replacement) 6 nos. X-ray Fluorescence ( XRF) (replacement) 2 nos.
	GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING	High Resolution Seismic survey instruments. 2 nos. High Resolution Multi-channel Seismic Tomography System 3 nos. Digital multi parametric geophysical logging system 2 nos. High Precision Gravimeter 18 nos. Total field Magnetometer 18 nos. Differential Ground Positioning System( DGPS) 12 nos. Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) 4 nos. Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) Truck 2 nos.
	DRILLING EQUIPMENT	Deep Drill Machine-( Wire line,hydraulic,etc) 2 nos.
	AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY	1. Heliborne survey system with sensors : Electro magnetic, magnetic, gravity and radiometric Heliborne sensors 2. Upgradation of the Twin Otter Airborne Survey System 3. Hyper Spectral Sensors and continuous upgradation of hardware and software
	MARINE SURVEY	1. The Ocean Going Research Vessel (OGRV) is in the final stage of procurement. The OGRV is expected to be delivered by September 2013. 2. GSI also proposes to procure a Geotechnical Vessel for which the procurement process is on.
	INFORMATION DISSEMINATION	Online Core Business Integrated System (OCBIS) is a system for integrating online all core geoscientific and administrative processes. It will integrate all available data in a spatial environment, allowing search and exploration using diverse queries. It will capture, store, utilize and manage all information generating out of GSI’s activities. It will disseminate reports through the Web Portal as per the requirement of the users.

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