Abstract: At present, the economic operating environment in China is becoming increasingly complex, and the contradiction between fiscal revenue and expenditure continues to be prominent. In addition, a new round of strategic actions to break through mineral exploration is being carried out in an orderly manner. In this context, as the core implementation subject of national basic, public welfare, and strategic geological work, the implementation of zero based budgeting by public welfare geological survey units is of great practical significance for optimizing the efficiency of financial fund allocation, strengthening the ability to coordinate and balance funds, and ensuring the stable operation of the unit’s economy. This paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of implementing zero based budget in public geological survey units, explores the implementation path of zero based budget management in public geological survey units, and provides specific suggestions from three aspects: consolidating the foundation of budget preparation, strictly enforcing budget execution constraints, and strengthening budget performance management.