The Geological Survey of India will establish a Rs 100-crore Data Processing, Interpretation and Integration Centre (DPIIC) in Bengaluru to harness artificial intelligence and advanced analytics for mineral exploration, in a move aimed at strengthening India's critical mineral security.
The proposed facility will serve as the country's central hub for analysing geological data and identifying prospective mineral-bearing regions, as India seeks to reduce its dependence on imports of minerals vital for clean energy, electronics, semiconductors and defence manufacturing.
Officials said the centre is expected to analyse nearly 8.5 lakh sq km of mineral-potential areas over the next five years. The project marks a significant shift in India's exploration strategy, which has traditionally relied on geological surveys, field investigations and drilling operations.
The new centre will integrate decades of geological, geophysical, geochemical and satellite data collected by various agencies and use artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced modelling techniques to pinpoint areas with a high probability of mineralisation.
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The objective is to improve exploration success rates by generating predictive models and prospectivity maps before costly field operations are undertaken. Scientists will also be able to develop detailed subsurface assessments using advanced data-processing tools.
The initiative comes at a time when countries around the world are competing to secure supplies of critical minerals required for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, battery manufacturing and strategic industries. India's push for self-reliance in sectors such as semiconductor production and defence manufacturing has further increased the importance of discovering domestic mineral resources.
The Bengaluru facility will also house high-performance computing systems, cloud-based data management infrastructure and advanced three-dimensional visualisation tools capable of producing detailed geological models.
Beyond mineral discovery, the centre is expected to function as a central repository of geoscientific intelligence, supporting policymakers, research institutions and exploration agencies with data-driven insights. Officials believe the project will help reduce exploration risks, improve decision-making and accelerate the identification of viable mineral blocks for future development.
The initiative reflects a broader technological transformation in India's resource sector, where artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed alongside traditional geoscience methods to uncover concealed and deep-seated mineral deposits that are difficult to detect through conventional exploration techniques.
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