Scheme Of Assistance To Women Entrepreneurs (Mahalir Udavi) 2026

This award scheme by the Ministry of Mines aims to recognize and honour individuals and teams for Read More... their exceptional achievements and contributions in fields like mineral discovery, geosciences, and mining. Read less

Details

The National Geoscience Awards is a prestigious recognition initiated by the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Originally known as the National Mineral Awards since 1966, its scope was broadened and renamed in 2009 to encompass all aspects of earth sciences.

What Is This Scheme?

This initiative is designed to celebrate and acknowledge exceptional work done by Indian citizens in various domains of geoscience. It seeks to encourage innovation and excellence in understanding and utilising our planet's resources.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The awards are for individuals and teams who are Indian citizens and have made significant professional contributions in areas such as mineral exploration, mining technology, basic and applied geosciences.

Why This Scheme Is Important

The National Geoscience Awards play a crucial role in highlighting groundbreaking research and practical applications in earth sciences. By honouring experts, it inspires future generations and promotes advancements that benefit the nation's mineral and resource sector.

Objective

This award scheme by the Ministry of Mines aims to recognize and honour individuals and teams for their exceptional achievements and contributions in fields like mineral discovery, geosciences, and mining.

Benefits

Financial assistance shall be considered up to a maximum of 75% of the project cost.

The loan is provided for acquiring fixed assets.

The loan is provided to meet the working capital requirement.

A concessional rate of interest of 0.5% less than the normal rate is charged for units promoted by Women.

A 50% concession is provided on the investigation fee.

The maximum term loan repayment period is 10 years.

Conditions

The project cost shall not exceed ₹20,00,000/-.

The Promoter’s contribution must be 25% of the project cost.

The Debt Equity Ratio (DER) shall be 3:1.

Repayment period is a maximum of 10 years, which includes a moratorium period of a maximum of 2 years, depending upon the period of implementation.

Collateral security in the form of immovable property shall be offered as per the lending policy of the Corporation.

Apart from collateral security, proposed fixed assets must be covered by mortgage and/or hypothecation.

For units promoted by women entrepreneurs, the value of the immovable property to be offered as collateral security is reduced and fixed at 50% of the loan amount.

Sources and references

Scheme Information

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be Indian citizens.
They should be professionally qualified geoscientists, engineers, technologists, or academicians with notable contributions in their respective fields.
The primary work should have been conducted in India over the last ten years, with an exception for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Team nominations are permitted, with a maximum of four members per team.
For the Young Geoscientist Award, candidates must be under 35 years of age as of December 31st of the previous year.
An individual can receive an award only once in a specific field but may apply in other geoscientific disciplines.
Those who have received the Lifetime Achievement Award are not eligible to apply for any other award category under this scheme.
While not mandatory, a certificate from the head of the institution or department confirming the nominee's work is desirable.

How To Apply

Applications or nominations for the National Geoscience Awards are typically accepted through a specified process managed by the Ministry of Mines. Detailed guidelines and application forms are usually released annually. Interested individuals and teams should look for official announcements from the Ministry of Mines.

For the latest information and application submission, please refer to the official website:

Ministry of Mines Website

Documents Required

A completed application or nomination form.
Proof of Indian citizenship (e.g., Aadhar card, passport).
Certificates showcasing educational and professional qualifications.
Detailed information about your work and achievements in the field of geoscience.
Any supporting documents or recommendation letters, if available.

FAQ’s

What exactly are the National Geoscience Awards?

These awards are a way for the Indian government to recognise and celebrate individuals and teams who have done extraordinary work and made outstanding contributions in areas like finding new minerals, exploring them, and advancements in mining and earth sciences.

Who is responsible for running these awards?

The Ministry of Mines, Government of India, is the authority that manages and administers these prestigious awards.

If I've received a Lifetime Achievement award, can I apply for another award under this scheme?

No, once you've been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, you are not eligible to apply for any other award category within the National Geoscience Awards.

Can I apply for an award if I have won one before?

You can apply in different fields even if you've won an award before, but you cannot receive an award in the same specific field more than once.

Is there a specific age requirement for the Young Geoscientist Award?

Yes, for the Young Geoscientist Award, applicants need to be younger than 35 years old as of December 31st of the year preceding the award announcement.

Can a group of people apply together?

Absolutely! Teams can apply for the National Geoscience Award. A team can have up to four members. However, there's a limit on the number of team awards given out.

What kind of proof of citizenship do I need?

You'll need to provide a valid ID proof that confirms your Indian citizenship, such as an Aadhar card or passport.

Does the work done outside India count for these awards?

For most award categories, the significant work must have been carried out primarily within India. The Lifetime Achievement Award is an exception to this rule.

What are the different types of awards given out?

There are three main categories: the National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement, the National Geoscience Award (for individuals or teams), and the National Young Geoscientist Award.

How many awards are given out in total?

Under this scheme, a total of 12 awards are presented across the various categories: one for Lifetime Achievement, ten for the National Geoscience Award (individual or team), and one for the Young Geoscientist.

What do award winners receive?

The recipients of these prestigious awards are honoured with a certificate and a plaque, which serve as recognition for their outstanding contributions.

What kind of experience or contribution duration is considered?

For most awards, the contributions made over the last ten years are taken into account. The Lifetime Achievement Award, however, is based on a broader career contribution.