175Years of Service by the Geological Survey of India to the Nation: A Brief Overview

For all Geologists and Earth-related scientists and technologists from Universities and Institutions in India, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) represents the revered 'Mother'.The numerous professional exploration agencies such as the AMD, ONGC, MECL, CGWB, Coal India were not only carved out of GSI but were also initiated by the trained work force from the GSI.Chaudhuri's 'Story of the GSI 1851-2001' published during the 150 years founding in 2001 and the compilation of Bandyopadhyay ( 2002) on the 'Annals and Antiquity of GSI' and the 'Reminiscences' ( 2001) provides a succinct account of the GSI's 150 years since its founding on 4 th March, 1851 by Sir Thomas Oldham (Fig. 1).The present account chronicles briefly the history of the GSI's founding and its landmark achievements, based on the accounts provided in these two publications besides interactions with GSI officers at different times since 1964.The 175 years of founding of GSI on 4 th March, 2025 was celebrated all over India at the various State Units, Regional Centres with a major function at Kolkata, the Central Headquarters of the GSI with the Honourable Minister for Coal and Mines Shri Kishan Reddy, Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI and others (Fig. 2).