ISM professor Arvind Kumar Mishra of the department of mining engineering received the prestigious National Geoscience Award-2014 from President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The award, earlier known as National Mineral Award, was conferred on Mishra, a PhD in mining engineering, for his contribution to explosives engineering, blasting technology and overall mining technology.

This year, Mishra is one among 33 recipients of the award, instituted by the Union ministry of mines in 1966. The award carries a cash prize and certificate. So far, it has been conferred on 721 geoscientists. Mishra, who specialises in drilling and blasting technology, rock excavation, engineering and geomechanics, has published 110 technical papers in reputed international journals.

"The award encourages a person to work with more spirit and energy," said Mishra, whose paper, titled "Innovative changes in mining using digital blasting technology" has been published in the Journal of Mines, Metals and Fuels.