In the strategic seminar on basic research on geological engineering (prospecting engineering direction) held in 2013, it was proposed that the efforts should be made to make the prospecting engineering subject supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. And good news came in 2014, the National Natural Science Foundation of China formally listed prospecting engineering subject into funding direction, which was named “Exploration Technology and Geological Drilling Subject (D0219)”. This event has historical significance. In this paper, based on the analysis on the situation of funded projects of exploration technology and geological drilling as well as some neighboring subjects in 2015 and 2016, the units funded by NNSF, funds, project types and project contents were obtained. It is also pointed out that in the next period of time, the total number of application for support by NNSF will increase year by year, especially the youth fund projects. At the same time, the main challenges in current fund application were discussed.