Deccan volcanism represents one of the most globally significant geodynamic events during the post-Pangean history of the Indian plate. This Large Igneous Province (LIP) has been the epitome for volcanologists, so also the event is coincident with one of the greatest Mass Extinctions of the Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) time when biotic changes laid to the new evolutionary pathways as foundations to modern life forms. Further, the episodic magma outpour strongly impacted the associated pre-, syn- and post-Deccan sedimentary environments and biota, besides influencing the contemporary geodynamic and environmental attributes. At the same time, the deep weathering yielded the unique development of lateritic profiles during the post-Deccan era. Understanding the internal structure of this thick pile of hard rock is significant to solve many riddles in seismology, groundwater geology, and geothermic and geotechnical studies.

A voluminous work was produced during the last several decades in the Deccan trap volcanism that sufficiently dealt with tholeiitic basalt volcanism, physical volcanology, dyke formation, palaeomagnetism and the bole bed formation. However, several aspects encompassing the feeder mechanism, alkaline and siliceous volcanism, mafic-ultramafic intrusions with entrained mantle xenoliths, the geodynamic impacts over Indian plate, kinematic response through seafloor magnetic anomalies and sea level response to buoyant plate motion remains unresolved to a large extent. The temporal constraints and durations for intra-, inter- and infra-trappeans, placement of K-Pg boundary, higher order magnetostratigraphic constraints, lava flow fabrics, dyke and xenoliths and economic and cultural potential of Deccan are the futuristic issues to provide guidelines emerging from such a conference.

The scope for carbon sequestration, the geothermal energy and new concepts in geotechnical as well as geotextile applications, the geomorphic attributes to prehistoric civilization and landslide formation, and groundwater regimes are to be investigated as advanced approaches. The Deccan geothermal resources present one of the sustainable energy sources, whereas the boreholes within Deccan may provide new constraints for carbon sinks. The issues such as seismicity and reservoir-triggered seismicity still demand detailed investigation related to earthquake nucleation and transfer of energy.

The proposed conference, christened as ‘Deccan-next’, is, therefore, a welcoming platform for the presentation of the status, new approaches and the future course of geoscientific investigation in the Deccan Large Igneous Province. It will form a foundation for a long-term collaborative effort to study various aspects of the Deccan. A combination of young and experienced workers is anticipated to hold dialogues during the conference.