Top News

New Delhi; The Union Cabinet has approved Samudra Manthan, a national offshore exploration scheme with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore. The programme will run until the 2030-31 financial year and aims to find more oil and natural gas beneath India’s seas.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will implement the Central Sector Scheme. It follows the National Deepwater Exploration Mission announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2025. The government wants to increase domestic energy production and lower the country’s dependence on imported fuels.

A new chapter in India’s offshore energy journey.

Samudra Manthan will accelerate offshore exploration, promote technological innovation, and strengthen India’s long-term energy security.#SamudraManthan #EnergySecurity #MoPNG pic.twitter.com/jpHt0i4Ud4

— Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) July 31, 2026

Samudra Manthan will cover several stages of offshore exploration, from mapping the seabed to drilling wells in deep and ultra-deep waters.

The plan includes:

• Collection and study of high-quality seismic data
• Exploratory drilling in deepwater areas
• Scientific drilling in largely unexplored basins
• Common offshore production and evacuation facilities
• An oil and gas manufacturing and services zone
• Training, digital monitoring and new technology adoption

Seismic surveys use sound waves to study rock formations below the seabed. The data helps experts identify areas that may contain oil or gas before expensive drilling begins.

The government expects the programme to support the discovery of more than 600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent, or MMTOE. This figure combines possible oil and gas reserves into one common measurement.

A discovery does not mean fuel will begin flowing immediately. Offshore projects can take years to assess, develop and connect with pipelines or processing facilities. Deep-sea drilling is costly too, and weather, geology and environmental clearances can affect progress.

The Cabinet announcement says the scheme will seek investment across exploration, equipment manufacturing and offshore services. India has opened most of its offshore area for exploration and has awarded more than 170 blocks, according to the Prime Minister’s remarks at India Energy Week 2026.

India spends a large amount on imported crude oil and gas. Higher local production could reduce some exposure to global price shocks and supply disruptions.

The Andaman and Nicobar basin has been described by the government as a promising area for future hydrocarbon exploration. The new scheme will extend work across other frontier basins and deep-sea regions as well.