Rules & Regulations

The Society shall have six classes of membership: Founder Members, Honorary Fellows, Life Members, Members, Institutional Members and Student Members.

• Founder Members — members who initiated the Society; members for life. Their number shall not exceed 20.
• Honorary Fellows — persons who have made distinguished and outstanding contributions in any field of geology and engineering. Limited to 20, with not more than two elected in a year.
• Life Members — any person interested in geology, engineering and related fields, admitted on payment of the prescribed fee and approval by the Council.
• Members — as above, admitted on payment of the prescribed fee and approval by the Council.
• Institutional Members — academic, research, government or non-government institutions, on terms set by the Council. An authorised representative may vote in Council elections and take part in meetings, and the institution receives all publications free of cost.
• Student Members — students in an under-graduate/post-graduate/doctoral course at a recognised institution, on submission of a relevant document and the prescribed fee. Student Members may take part in all activities but do not have the right to vote.

Expulsion: a member accused of misconduct subversive of the objects of the Society, or detrimental to its interests or repute, shall be given an opportunity to explain; if found guilty after enquiry by the Council, and upon a resolution of the General Body, the member shall be removed from the register. Pending the decision of the General Body, the Council may suspend the member’s rights and privileges.

Fees: every Member/Institutional/Student Member pays an admission fee and the annual/life-time subscription with taxes as decided by the Council. Annual fees fall due on 1st January and are payable within three months. Names of members whose fees remain unpaid for a year from the due date are liable to be removed from the list.

Compounding of fees: for all classes, the Society may, after the admission fee is paid, compound the payment of future membership fees at rates fixed from time to time, payable in one or more instalments within one year.

Donations & subventions: the Society may accept grants, donations and subventions from Central and State Governments, universities, industrial organisations etc., to be applied to the aims and objects of the Society. The Society may also acquire, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property, and raise finance, in pursuit of its objects. The funds of the Society shall be invested in the modes specified under section 13(1)(d) read with section 11(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The official year of the Society shall be from 1st April to 31st March. The Annual Report, Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet for each year shall be prepared accordingly and filed.

The affairs of the Society shall be administered by a Council consisting of the President; two Vice-Presidents (at least one resident at the Headquarters); the Secretary General and Secretary (at least one resident at the Headquarters); the Treasurer (resident at the Headquarters); the Editor of the Journal; the Managing Editor; and a Member Coordinator to coordinate all activities.

The term of the elected Council shall be three years. All office-bearers are eligible for re-election; the President and Vice-Presidents shall not hold office for more than two terms in succession, and no other office-bearer for more than three terms in succession.

• President — chairperson of the Council; presides over meetings and is the administrative in-charge of the Society.
• Vice-Presidents — exercise powers delegated by the President or Council; in the President’s absence, one shall preside.
• Secretary General — in charge of all correspondence and general administration; responsible for the conduct of all meetings in consultation with the President.
• Secretary — assists the President in all matters and activities of the Society.
• Treasurer — receives all sums payable to the Society, makes authorised payments and maintains the accounts. Financial transactions are managed jointly by the Treasurer and the Secretary General/Secretary.
• Editor & Managing Editor — responsible for the timely publication of the Journal and other publications, assisted by an Editorial Board.

The Council shall meet at least once a quarter (members may attend online); the quorum for a Council meeting is nine members. An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year, together with an annual scientific meeting. The President may convene Extraordinary General Meetings on a decision of the Council or on a written requisition of at least one-tenth of the members; at least 15 days’ notice, stating the business, shall be given.

The quorum for an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting is 25 members. If no quorum forms within fifteen minutes, the business shall be transacted at the adjourned meeting held at the same place after a quarter of an hour.

The Society may approve a Regional Centre on a request by at least 20 members from a town or city (jurisdiction within 100 km). Each Centre is administered in accordance with the Memorandum and Constitution, with a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer elected once in three years (and a Vice-Chairperson and Joint Secretary if membership exceeds 100). The Secretary of each Centre submits reports, annual reports and financial statements to the Secretary General/Secretary at the end of each financial year. The Society may provide financial support of up to 50% of the annual subscription received from that Centre’s members.

Election to Honorary Fellowship and to the Council shall be conducted in accordance with the bye-laws and rules of procedure framed by the Council and approved by the General Body. Vacancies during a term may be filled by the President for the remainder of the term.

Procedure (in brief): the Council appoints an Election Officer who notifies the election and invites proposals; proposals are circulated to Council members for their views; the outgoing Council makes final nominations; a voting paper is sent to every member by post or electronic media; voting is by postal ballot or electronic voting; papers are opened and counted by the Election Officer at the Annual General Meeting and results announced by the Chairman. Only members in “good standing” (dues paid to the end of the previous year) may participate.

The Society shall publish a Journal containing papers embodying the results of the latest research in any branch of geology and related engineering. The Editor, assisted by the Editorial Board, shall be responsible for the Journal and other publications such as bulletins and monographs.

• Founder Members may participate in all meetings, have the right to vote, and may propose candidates for Fellowship. They receive free online access to the Journal (or hard copy on payment) and publications at a discount.
• Honorary Fellows enjoy all privileges of a Founder Member, except that they cannot vote or stand in elections.
• Members may participate in all meetings and have the right to vote, but cannot propose candidates for Honorary Fellowship. Journal access and publication discounts apply.
• Student Members may participate in all meetings but do not have the right to vote; they are entitled to free online Journal access and discounted publications.

Only members in “good standing” are entitled to the above privileges.

Properties: the President in Council shall be in charge of all the properties of the Society.

Audit: the Council shall annually appoint an auditor to check the accounts, certify the account books and prepare a Balance Sheet for consideration by the Council.

Dissolution: on dissolution, the remaining assets shall not be distributed among members but transferred to another charitable trust/society with similar objects enjoying recognition under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Amendment: amendments may be made at any Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting convened for the purpose, subject to the provisions of sections 2(15), 11, 12, 13 and 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and with the prior approval of the Commissioner of Income Tax where required.