The government has approved the ₹84,084-crore Samudra Manthan mission, a landmark offshore energy exploration programme aimed at strengthening India’s energy security, increasing domestic oil and gas production, and reducing the country’s growing dependence on crude oil imports. The first phase of the scheme will run until March 31, 2031, focusing on advanced offshore exploration, deepwater drilling, infrastructure development, and domestic manufacturing capabilities. The initiative supports the vision of Viksit Bharat by accelerating exploration and production (E&P), promoting technological innovation, and enhancing India’s long-term energy resilience.
Addressing India’s Rising Energy Import Dependence
India’s dependence on imported crude oil has increased significantly over the past decade. Crude oil import dependency rose from 78.5% in 2014-15 to 88.7% in 2025-26, highlighting the urgent need to expand domestic hydrocarbon production. At the same time, production from mature oilfields, including the Mumbai High offshore fields and several fields in Assam, has steadily declined after decades of operation. Although India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer, it ranks only around 20th globally in oil production, making energy security a key national priority.
Four Key Components of the Samudra Manthan Scheme
The ₹84,084-crore programme comprises four major components designed to strengthen the offshore exploration ecosystem.
- Advanced Offshore Seismic Surveys
The government has allocated ₹28,534 crore for acquiring, processing, and interpreting high-quality offshore seismic data using modern exploration technologies.
The objective is to identify new hydrocarbon reserves with greater accuracy while reducing exploration risks.
- Deepwater Exploration Drilling
The scheme provides ₹43,200 crore for drilling 60 deepwater exploration wells.
To encourage private sector participation, the government will support up to 50% of eligible drilling costs, subject to a maximum assistance of ₹675 crore per well.
This financial support is expected to accelerate exploration activities in deepwater and ultra-deepwater basins.
- Common Offshore Infrastructure
An additional ₹10,000 crore has been earmarked for developing shared offshore production and evacuation infrastructure.
These facilities will enable faster commercialization of new discoveries while reducing project costs through common infrastructure.
- Oil and Gas Manufacturing & Services Zones
The government will invest ₹2,000 crore to establish dedicated manufacturing and services hubs for the oil and gas sector. These zones aim to promote indigenous manufacturing, localize critical equipment production, strengthen supply chains, and reduce dependence on imported technologies.
Boosting Domestic Oil and Gas Production
The mission aims to increase India’s annual domestic oil and gas production from approximately 62 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) to 80 MMTOE. In addition, the programme seeks to expand India’s hydrocarbon resource base from 1.6 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) to 2.2 billion TOE, significantly enhancing the country’s long-term energy reserves. According to government estimates, the resulting increase in domestic production could reduce crude oil imports by nearly ₹1 lakh crore annually, providing substantial savings while improving energy security.
Responding to Declining Domestic Production
India’s domestic crude oil production has steadily declined despite continuous exploration efforts. According to information presented in Parliament by Minister of State for Petroleum Suresh Gopi, crude oil production fell from 36.9 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2015-16 to 28.7 MMT in 2024-25. Meanwhile, crude oil imports increased from 189.4 MMT in FY2015 to 245.3 MMT in FY2026, reflecting widening demand-supply gaps. Although the government has auctioned 172 exploration blocks covering nearly 3,78,652 square kilometres under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), production from ageing fields continues to decline, making new offshore discoveries increasingly important.
Creating an Integrated Offshore Exploration Ecosystem
Beyond exploration and drilling, the Samudra Manthan Mission introduces a comprehensive approach to offshore energy development. The programme includes large-scale acquisition and interpretation of seismic data, accelerated deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling, scientific drilling in frontier sedimentary basins, development of offshore production and evacuation infrastructure and creation of integrated oil and gas manufacturing and service hubs. The scheme incorporates digital programme management, advanced technology adoption, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and international collaboration to strengthen India’s offshore exploration capabilities.
Strengthening India’s Long-Term Energy Security
The Samudra Manthan Mission represents one of India’s largest investments in offshore hydrocarbon exploration. By combining advanced exploration technologies, deepwater drilling, modern infrastructure, and domestic manufacturing, the initiative aims to unlock new oil and gas reserves while reducing import dependence. As reported by hindustantimes.com, as India continues to experience rising energy demand, the programme is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing domestic production, supporting industrial growth, and advancing the country’s long-term energy security objectives.
