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New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Samudra Manthan scheme.
This central sector initiative under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas carries a total outlay of ₹84,084 crore. Running through FY2030–31, the scheme intends to accelerate offshore oil and gas exploration, strengthen domestic energy security, and expand upstream crude production.
[Samudra Manthan Scheme Outlay: ₹84,084 Crore]
├──▶ Deepwater & Ultra-Deepwater Exploratory Drilling
├──▶ High-Quality Seismic Data Acquisition & Processing
└──▶ Offshore Evacuation Pipelines & Services Hubs
Expanding Deepwater Drilling and Offshore Infrastructure
Fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision articulated during his 2025 Independence Day address, the scheme covers the entire offshore exploration value chain.
Specifically, the program Funds large-scale acquisition, processing, and interpretation of high-quality seismic data. Furthermore, it accelerates deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory drilling alongside scientific surveys in frontier marine basins.
Core Value-Chain Deliverables of the Scheme:
Reserve Accretion Target: Aims to unlock over 600 Million Metric Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE).
Physical Infrastructure: Develops shared offshore production and evacuation pipelines.
Industrial Ecosystem: Establishes a dedicated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone.
Implementation Horizon: Execution across a multi-year window through FY2030–31.
Driving Investment and Indigenous Manufacturing
Crucially, the government expects the initiative to generate large-scale employment while strengthening indigenous manufacturing under Make in India frameworks.
[Strategic Public Investment] ──▶ Unlocks 600 MMTOE Reserves ──▶ Cuts Crude Import Reliance
By establishing shared evacuation channels, the program lowers operational entry barriers for private and state exploration companies. In addition, the scheme integrates digital program management, capacity building, and international tech adoption to create a globally competitive upstream ecosystem.
Ultimately, this approval builds upon a decade of upstream reforms, including the opening of nearly all offshore acreage and modernising the National Data Repository. Consequently, the Samudra Manthan scheme positions India to reduce volatile fuel import dependencies while advancing toward Viksit Bharat.
Samudra Manthan Scheme Breakdown
| Scheme Parameter / Metric | Approved Policy Value | Core Operational Focus | Strategic National Impact |
| Total Scheme Outlay | ₹84,084 Crore | Central sector public investment. | Accelerates offshore hydrocarbon discoveries. |
| Target Reserve Expansion | >600 MMTOE | Unlocking deepwater and frontier basins. | Significantly expands domestic fuel reserves. |
| Implementation Window | Through FY2030–31 | Phased exploration and drilling roadmap. | Delivers long-term policy predictability. |
| Infrastructure Feature | Shared Evacuation Grid | Common production and pipeline networks. | Lowers capital expenditure for explorers. |
| Manufacturing Focus | Specialized Services Zone | Localizing subsea equipment and tech. | Drives Make in India in upstream energy. |
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