Why in News?
Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on July 31, 2026, becoming the first woman to head the organization in its 176-year history.
Who is Varsha Ashok Aglawe?
- A palaeontologist with over three decades of experience, she joined GSI in 1992 after a stint with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
- She succeeds Asit Saha, who served as Director General for two years.
- Previously, she served as Additional Director General and Head of Department for the Eastern Region in Kolkata.
What is the Geological Survey of India?
- Established in 1851 to locate coal deposits for the Railways, GSI is one of the oldest scientific survey organizations in the world.
- Headquartered in Kolkata, it functions as an attached office to the Ministry of Mines.
Exam Connect
GSI → Established 1851, HQ Kolkata, under Ministry of Mines
Indian Bureau of Mines → Established 1948, HQ Nagpur, under Ministry of Mines