The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Samudra Manthan, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with an approved outlay of Rs 84,084 crore. The scheme will be implemented up to FY 2030–31 and aims to strengthen India’s offshore exploration and production capabilities while supporting the country’s long-term energy security goals.
Announced on July 31, 2026, Samudra Manthan has been launched as a Central Sector Scheme to unlock India’s offshore energy resources. The initiative follows the Prime Minister’s vision, outlined during his Independence Day address in 2025, to expand exploration activities and accelerate domestic oil and gas production.
Samudra Manthan to Expand Offshore Exploration Infrastructure
The scheme covers multiple segments of the offshore exploration and production value chain. It includes large-scale acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-quality seismic data across offshore regions. It also provides for accelerated exploratory drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas, along with scientific drilling in frontier basins.
Under Samudra Manthan, the government will support the development of common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure. The scheme also includes plans for establishing an integrated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone to strengthen domestic capabilities in offshore technologies and services.
In addition, provisions have been made for digital programme management, capacity building, technology adoption, stakeholder engagement and international outreach. These measures are intended to create an integrated ecosystem that can accelerate offshore exploration and production activities across the country.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the scheme is expected to encourage higher levels of offshore activity and create a stronger foundation for future energy production. By expanding infrastructure and improving access to data and technology, the programme seeks to support exploration efforts in both existing and frontier regions.
The government expects Samudra Manthan to help generate reserve accretion of more than 600 Million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE). The scheme is also expected to increase domestic oil and gas production, promote indigenous manufacturing under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, and generate large-scale employment opportunities.
Officials said the programme could stimulate significant investment across the exploration and production value chain. Increased investment in offshore activities is expected to create long-term opportunities for industry, manufacturing, innovation and economic growth.
The Cabinet approval comes after a series of reforms introduced in the upstream sector over the past decade. According to the government, these reforms included opening almost the entire offshore acreage for exploration, modernising the legislative and contractual framework, and strengthening the National Data Repository.
The government stated that Samudra Manthan will build on these reforms through strategic public investment, modern technologies and world-class infrastructure. The scheme aims to accelerate offshore exploration while enhancing India’s technological capabilities and strengthening energy security for the future.
As implementation progresses through FY 2030–31, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme is expected to play a major role in expanding offshore exploration activities and supporting the country’s broader economic and industrial development objectives.
