Varsha Ashok Aglawe becomes first woman Director General of Geological Survey of India
On 31 July 2026 Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India, the first woman to head GSI in its 176-year history.
Summary
Varsha Ashok Aglawe took charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), becoming the first woman to lead the organisation in its 176-year history. She succeeds Asit Saha, who was DG from 27 July 2024 to 31 July 2026. A palaeontology and palynology expert, she joined GSI in 1992 and was earlier Additional Director General & Head of the Eastern Region, Kolkata; she reported the Salbardi–Ghorpend area as a new dinosaur nesting site in Central India. GSI works under the Ministry of Mines.
Key facts
- Post
- Director General, Geological Survey of India (54th)
- First
- First woman DG in GSI's 176-year history
- Predecessor
- Asit Saha (27 July 2024 – 31 July 2026)
- Joined GSI
- 1992
- Earlier post
- ADG & HoD, Eastern Region, Kolkata
- Expertise
- Palaeontology and palynology; Salbardi–Ghorpend dinosaur nesting site
- Ministry
- Ministry of Mines
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Who became the first woman Director General of the Geological Survey of India on 31 July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Varsha Ashok Aglawe
Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th DG of GSI, the first woman to head it in its 176-year history.
Varsha Ashok Aglawe, who took charge as GSI Director General in July 2026, succeeded whom?
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Correct answer: D — Asit Saha
She succeeded Asit Saha, who served as Director General from 27 July 2024 to 31 July 2026.
Consider the following statements about the Geological Survey of India (GSI) as per the July 2026 PIB release: 1. Varsha Ashok Aglawe is its 54th Director General. 2. GSI functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
She is the 54th DG of GSI; the release was issued by the Ministry of Mines, under which GSI works – not the Ministry of Earth Sciences.