Cabinet clears one of India’s largest offshore exploration programmes; industry leaders say the initiative could reshape domestic energy production and reduce import dependence.
India has unveiled one of its most ambitious energy exploration programmes to date, approving the ₹84,084 crore ‘Samudra Manthan’ – National Offshore Exploration Scheme, a move aimed at unlocking offshore oil and gas reserves, strengthening domestic production and reducing the country’s dependence on imported energy.
Approved by the Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will be implemented through FY2030-31. The government expects the initiative to accelerate offshore exploration, build critical infrastructure and position India as a globally competitive offshore energy and services hub.
The announcement has drawn support from industry leaders, who see the programme as a long-term investment in India’s energy security and industrial capabilities.
Industry Sees a Turning Point for Domestic Exploration
Among the first corporate leaders to welcome the Cabinet’s decision was Pranav Adani, Managing Director (Agro and Oil & Gas) at the Adani Group.
In a post on X, he described the initiative as a landmark step towards expanding India’s domestic exploration efforts.
“India’s energy exploration landscape is entering an era of unprecedented scale. Guided by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s visionary leadership for India’s energy security, the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Samudra Manthan scheme marks a landmark step towards unlocking our vast offshore energy potential. It will accelerate domestic exploration and production, foster greater industry collaboration and strengthen the foundations of an energy-secure India,” he wrote.
His comments reflect broader industry expectations that the programme could encourage greater collaboration between government agencies, exploration companies, service providers and technology firms operating across the offshore energy value chain.
From Seismic Surveys to Deepwater Drilling
The government’s vision extends well beyond conventional exploration.
The Samudra Manthan programme covers the entire offshore exploration value chain, beginning with the acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-quality seismic data before moving into accelerated exploration drilling across deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions.
The scheme also includes scientific drilling in frontier basins, development of common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure, and the creation of an integrated Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone to strengthen India’s domestic industrial ecosystem.
Alongside physical infrastructure, the programme provides for digital programme management, advanced technology adoption, capacity building, stakeholder engagement and international collaboration, reflecting the increasing role of digital technologies in modern offshore exploration.
Building Energy Security at Home
India remains one of the world’s largest importers of crude oil, making domestic exploration a strategic priority.
The government has positioned Samudra Manthan as a key pillar of its long-term energy security strategy and as an extension of the Prime Minister’s vision, articulated during his 2025 Independence Day address, to launch a modern-day “Samudra Manthan” for discovering India’s offshore energy wealth.
According to official estimates, the scheme could help add more than 600 Million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE) to India’s hydrocarbon reserves while significantly increasing offshore exploration and production over the coming years.
Officials also expect the programme to attract fresh investment across exploration, engineering, manufacturing and oilfield services, creating new employment opportunities and strengthening indigenous capabilities under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
India’s energy exploration landscape is entering an era of unprecedented scale. Guided by Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s visionary leadership for India’s energy security, the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Samudra Manthan scheme marks a landmark step towards unlocking our… https://t.co/ljeD3L28BJ
— Pranav Adani (@PranavAdani) August 1, 2026
More Than an Exploration Programme
The significance of Samudra Manthan lies not only in its scale but also in its broader ambition.
Unlike traditional exploration programmes focused primarily on discovering hydrocarbons, the initiative aims to develop an integrated offshore ecosystem encompassing technology, manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure and specialised services.
That could create opportunities extending well beyond upstream oil and gas companies.
Engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, digital technology providers, offshore logistics operators, geoscience specialists and advanced manufacturing businesses are all expected to benefit as exploration activity expands.
For India’s startup ecosystem, the programme could also open new opportunities in offshore robotics, artificial intelligence, digital twins, subsea inspection technologies, remote sensing, predictive maintenance and industrial software for energy infrastructure.
A Long-Term Investment in Strategic Capacity
Large energy discoveries cannot be planned around quarterly results.
They require sustained investment, advanced technology and years of exploration before commercial production begins.
The Cabinet’s approval of the ₹84,084 crore Samudra Manthan scheme reflects that long-term approach.
Success will ultimately be measured not only by the quantity of hydrocarbons discovered but also by whether India succeeds in building a globally competitive offshore exploration ecosystem capable of supporting domestic energy needs for decades to come.
If that ambition is realised, Samudra Manthan could become more than India’s largest offshore exploration programme.
It could mark the beginning of a new phase in the country’s journey towards greater energy security, technological capability and industrial self-reliance.
