Now Reading: Varsha Aglawe becomes first woman GSI chief in 176 years
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Varsha Aglawe becomes first woman GSI chief in 176 years
Varsha Ashok Aglawe has taken charge as the 54th director general of the Geological Survey of India, becoming the first woman to lead the 176-year-old organisation in its history. A palaeontologist with…
The Story in Brief
Varsha Ashok Aglawe has taken charge as the 54th director general of the Geological Survey of India, becoming the first woman to lead the 176-year-old organisation in its history. A palaeontologist with over 30 years of experience, she joined the GSI in 1992 and previously served as additional director general in Kolkata. She succeeds Asit Saha, who held the post for two years.
On assuming office, Ms Aglawe said the GSI will align its programmes with the government's focus on critical mineral exploration and mineral security. Her priorities include accelerating exploration of deep-seated mineral deposits, expanding offshore mineral surveys, strengthening lab infrastructure, and promoting advanced geoscientific research, natural hazard studies, glaciology, and capacity building for young geoscientists.
The Indian Opinion
The appointment of a woman at the top of GSI after 176 years is a milestone, but the real test lies in whether she can turn ambitious exploration targets into concrete discoveries. Skeptics may dismiss it as tokenism, yet her three decades of field experience suggest otherwise. Watch for her ability to speed up India's hunt for critical minerals like lithium, a number that will settle the question is the actual increase in explored reserves over her tenure.
Source: thehindu.com
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