13 July 2026: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, Government of India, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership to strengthen collaboration in geosciences, disaster resilience, technological innovation, and landslide risk reduction.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and Shri Pradeep Singh, Additional Director General (PSS), Geological Survey of India, in the presence of Shri Asit Saha, Director General, Geological Survey of India, along with senior officials from both institutions. The MoU signing ceremony was conducted in a hybrid format, bringing together senior officials and representatives from the Geological Survey of India at its Central Headquarters in Kolkata and representatives from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham at the Amritapuri campus.
The Amrita delegation was led by Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh and included Dr. Sudesh K. Wadhawan, Distinguished Professor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Former Director General, Geological Survey of India; Prof. Balaji Hariharan; Mr. Sudarshan V. C.; and Mr. Nitin Kumar M.
The MoU establishes a framework for long-term collaboration in geosciences through joint research, technology development, field investigations, capacity building, academic exchange, specialised training programmes, and knowledge sharing. By bringing together GSI’s extensive geoscientific expertise and Amrita’s strengths in artificial intelligence, IoT, remote sensing, digital technologies, and landslide early warning systems, the partnership aims to develop innovative, science-based solutions for geohazard assessment, monitoring, and disaster risk reduction.
The collaboration holds particular significance for strengthening India’s efforts in landslide risk reduction. Both institutions are internationally recognised contributors to the International Programme on Landslides (IPL), with Amrita serving as a World Centre of Excellence on Landslide Risk Reduction and GSI playing a leading role in geological investigations, hazard zonation, and geoscientific research.
The partnership also supports the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction and contributes to global initiatives including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Kyoto Landslide Commitment 2020, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As climate-related geohazards continue to intensify, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific research, technological innovation, and institutional cooperation to build safer, more resilient communities and strengthen India’s disaster preparedness.
