IIT (ISM) Dhanbad applied geology students win overall first position at MDAP 2026
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Dhanbad: Students of the Department of Applied Geology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad have brought laurels to the institute…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad: Students of the Department of Applied Geology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad have brought laurels to the institute by securing the Overall First Team position at the Mineral Development Awareness Programme (MDAP) 2026.
The winning team, comprising Divya Umar and Ananya Dutta, both second-year students of the M.Sc. Tech programme in Applied Geology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, emerged as the top team among 35 teams from nine states participating in the national-level programme.
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Team Tops National Competition
MDAP 2026 was held from August 20 to 23 in the Joda mining and industrial area of Kendujhar district, Odisha. The annual programme is organised by the Society of Geoscientists & Allied Technologists (SGAT) to familiarise students of geoscience and allied disciplines with developments in the mineral sector.
T. Mohanta, Vice-President of SGAT, Bhubaneswar, communicated the achievement to the Department of Applied Geology after the programme concluded.
In his communication, Mohanta congratulated the students and informed the department that MDAP 2026 concluded successfully, with teams representing nine states.
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Divya Umar Secures Third Position Individually
In another notable achievement, Divya Umar secured third position in the individual event.
The event tested participants on their ability to identify rocks, minerals and ores, as well as their knowledge of mining machinery, metallurgical processes and interpretation of satellite imagery.
The twin achievements underline the students’ strong grasp of both theoretical and practical aspects of applied geology and mineral development.
Strong Academic Background
Divya Umar is pursuing an M.Sc. Tech in Applied Geology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. She previously completed her bachelor’s degree in Geology from the Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University.
Ananya Dutta is also pursuing an M.Sc. Tech in Applied Geology at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. She completed her undergraduate studies in Geology/Earth Science from Presidency University, Kolkata.
Department Hails Students’ Achievement
Congratulating the students, Prof. Shushanta Sarangi, Head of the Department of Applied Geology, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, said the achievement reflected their academic competence, field-based understanding and ability to apply geological knowledge in competitive settings.
“We are extremely proud of Divya Umar and Ananya Dutta for securing the first position at a national-level competition involving participants from several states. Divya’s additional achievement of securing the third position in the individual event makes this success even more significant. Their performance is a matter of pride for the Department of Applied Geology and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad,” Prof. Sarangi said.
He added that such achievements encourage students to deepen their understanding of geology and allied disciplines while gaining exposure to the practical and applied aspects of mineral development and earth sciences.
The Department of Applied Geology congratulated both students on their outstanding performance and wished them continued success in their academic and professional careers.
