- India is set to host the 36thInternational Geological Congress (IGC) in New Delhi during the first week of March 2020. The theme for next year conference is ‘Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Development’.
About International Geological Congress (IGC)
- It is popularly described as ‘Olympics of Geosciences’. The IGCs are a prestigious global geoscientific event held once in four years and participated by nearly 5000-6000 geoscientists from all across the world.
- IGC 2020: The 36thIGC is expected to provide a platform for international cooperation in all major field of geosciences including launching of collaborative programs, provision of investment opportunities in environmental management, mineral exploration, mining and related enterprises.
- Geological Survey of India is the nodal agency for organizing the IGC 2020.
- The event is being funded by Union Ministry of Mines (MoM)and Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with support of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and National Science Academies of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- India and IGC: India is the only Asian country to host the IGC event twice. India had earlier hosted the event for the first time in 1964, which was 22nd
- The event was inaugurated by then President of India Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
