New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘Samudra Manthan’ (National Offshore Exploration Scheme) with a total outlay of ₹84,084 crore, marking one of the country’s largest initiatives to strengthen offshore oil and gas exploration and enhance India’s energy security.
Announcing the decision during the Union Cabinet briefing, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the ambitious programme is aimed at accelerating the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in India’s offshore areas while reducing dependence on imports.
“The Cabinet has approved a major programme named ‘Samudra Manthan’. It is aimed at the exploration for oil and gas production in the country, and a budget of ₹84,084 crore has been allocated for it,” the Minister said.
Two Major Components of the Scheme
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the scheme consists of two key components designed to strengthen the country’s offshore exploration ecosystem.
The first component focuses on Seismic Data Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation, with an allocation of approximately ₹28,000 crore.
He explained that advanced seismic technology will be used to conduct scientific surveys of offshore regions to identify areas with the highest potential for oil and gas reserves. The data generated through these surveys will enable the preparation of precise exploration plans, making subsequent drilling and production activities more efficient and scientifically driven.
“Using seismic technology, a precise exploration plan will be formulated based on data from areas with the highest potential for oil and gas deposits. Once the exploration plan is ready, production activities can be initiated in a more scientific manner,” the Minister said.
The second component is the Offshore Exploration Acceleration, Common Infrastructure and Manufacturing Support programme, which has been allocated approximately ₹43,000 crore.
This component aims to accelerate offshore exploration by developing common infrastructure, strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities, and providing the necessary support systems required for large-scale offshore exploration and production activities.
Strengthening India’s Energy Security
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Samudra Manthan scheme would play a crucial role in meeting India’s rapidly growing demand for oil and natural gas.
He noted that increasing domestic exploration and production would reduce dependence on imported hydrocarbons, thereby enhancing the country’s energy security.
The Minister added that higher domestic production is expected to lead to significant savings in foreign exchange, as lower imports would reduce India’s energy import bill.
“This will prove to be a major game-changer for the country’s rising demand for oil and gas. It will result in significant savings of foreign exchange,” he said.
Boost to Exploration and Manufacturing
According to the government, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme is expected to encourage greater investment in offshore exploration, strengthen the domestic energy sector, promote indigenous manufacturing, and create employment opportunities across exploration, engineering, and related industries.
The approval of the ₹84,084-crore Samudra Manthan scheme reflects the Government’s focus on expanding domestic energy resources, adopting advanced exploration technologies, and building a robust offshore infrastructure to support India’s long-term energy requirements.
