New Delhi, India: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched the ‘Samudra Manthan – National Offshore Exploration Scheme’, a new initiative aimed at expanding offshore hydrocarbon exploration, attracting investment and strengthening India’s long-term energy security.
The government has introduced the Samudra Manthan – National Offshore Exploration Scheme as a strategic programme to accelerate exploration and production activities in India’s offshore sedimentary basins. The first phase of the initiative carries a financial outlay of ₹84,084 crore and will remain in force up to FY 2030-31.
According to the ministry, the scheme seeks to unlock the country’s offshore hydrocarbon potential by encouraging investment in frontier and underexplored regions while promoting advanced exploration technologies. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance domestic oil and gas production and reduce dependence on imported energy.
Samudra Manthan has been structured around four key objectives: strengthening India’s energy security, accelerating domestic exploration and production, promoting technological leadership and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The programme includes multiple components designed to support offshore exploration. These cover seismic data acquisition, processing and interpretation, accelerated offshore exploration activities, common offshore infrastructure and market-enabling reforms. The ministry said these measures are intended to improve exploration efficiency, generate new geological data and create a more investment-friendly environment for exploration companies.
As part of the first phase, the government has earmarked funding across major components, including ₹28,534 crore for offshore data acquisition, ₹55,200 crore for offshore exploration and infrastructure, and ₹350 crore for market support initiatives, along with allocations for other exploration-related activities. The total approved outlay stands at ₹84,084 crore.
The ministry noted that offshore exploration remains critical for meeting India’s future energy requirements, particularly as demand for oil and natural gas continues to grow. The initiative is expected to support exploration in deepwater and frontier basins while creating opportunities for greater participation from both public and private sector companies.
The government said the scheme is intended to build a stronger domestic exploration ecosystem, improve resource assessment capabilities and contribute to long-term energy resilience through increased offshore hydrocarbon production.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India
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