Cabinet approves Rs 84,084 crore Samudra Manthan to unlock offshore energy

The Union Cabinet has approved the Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme with an outlay of Rs 84,084 crore. The programme aims to expand offshore oil and gas exploration, raise domestic output and reduce import dependence.Officials believe the programme will usher in a new era of offshore exploration. (Photo: Getty)The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme with a massive outlay of 84,084 crore, aimed at accelerating offshore oil and gas exploration and boosting India's long-term energy security.The centrally funded scheme, to be implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas until FY 2030-31, seeks to unlock India's untapped offshore hydrocarbon resources through large-scale investments in exploration, technology and infrastructure.The initiative draws inspiration from Prime Minister Modi's Independence Day 2025 address, in which he called for a modern-day "Samudra Manthan" to harness the country's vast offshore energy potential.The government described the programme as a landmark step towards strengthening domestic energy production, reducing import dependence and supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat. Under the scheme, the government will undertake extensive acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-quality seismic data to identify potential oil and gas reserves beneath the seabed. The programme is also projected to significantly increase domestic oil and gas production. (Photo: PTI) It also envisages accelerated exploration drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions, along with scientific drilling in frontier sedimentary basins that remain largely unexplored. The Cabinet also approved the development of common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure to support future discoveries. Another key component is the establishment of an integrated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone, aimed at strengthening India's domestic industrial ecosystem for offshore exploration technologies.Beyond exploration, the scheme includes investments in digital programme management, capacity building, adoption of advanced technologies, stakeholder engagement and international collaboration to create a globally competitive offshore exploration ecosystem.According to the government, Samudra Manthan is expected to help discover more than 600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) of hydrocarbon reserves.The programme is also projected to significantly increase domestic oil and gas production, generate large-scale employment, promote indigenous manufacturing under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, and attract substantial private and public investments across the exploration and production value chain.The government said the scheme builds upon a decade of reforms in India's upstream petroleum sector, including opening nearly the entire offshore acreage for exploration, modernising exploration policies and strengthening the National Data Repository.Officials believe the programme will usher in a new era of offshore exploration powered by cutting-edge technologies, world-class infrastructure and strategic public investment, helping India strengthen its energy independence while driving economic growth over the coming decades.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 17:15 IST