Samudra Manthan explained: How India’s offshore oil push can be a game-changer
Samudra Manthan scheme expected to add over 600 MMTOE of reserves and will be implemented through FY 2030-31. (Representative image) “To make the country developed
Samudra Manthan scheme expected to add over 600 MMTOE of reserves and will be implemented through FY 2030-31. (Representative image) “To make the country developed, we are now moving towards ‘ Samudra Manthan ’ (churning of the ocean). Taking forward our Samudra Manthan, we want to work in a mission mode towards finding oil reserves, gas reserves under the sea and hence India is going to start the Deep Water Exploration Mission,” What is Samudra Manthan – Offshore Exploration Scheme? What is the Samudra Manthan scheme? Large-scale acquisition, processing and interpretation of high-quality seismic data. Accelerated deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploratory drilling. Scientific drilling in frontier basins. Development of common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure. Creation of an integrated Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone. Digital programme management, capacity building, technology adoption, stakeholder engagement and international outreach. Expected to add more than 600 Million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE) to India's reserves. Aims to significantly expand offshore exploration and increase domestic oil and gas production. India’s exposure to oil and gas imports India's Oil & Gas Exploration: The Big Picture Importance of upstream output Significance of ‘Samudra Manthan’ How the scheme can expand Challenges and road ahead Crude dependence unlikely to come down soon On August 15, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of energy security, announcing the Deep Water Exploration Mission.PM Modi said from the ramparts of Red Fort.Six months later, India’s energy security saw one of its biggest tests in recent times with the start of the Middle East conflict. It was an unprecedented oil shock and India, which is largely dependent on the world for its oil, LPG, and LNG needs, saw its economy staring at a grim situation.Since then the US-Iran war has subsided and India has also managed to ensure its energy security through a vastly diversified supply chain. But the reality of the dependence remains, and so does the vulnerability.In this backdrop, the Union Cabinet’s decision to approve the Rs 84,084 crore Samudra Manthan – Offshore Exploration Scheme is being seen as a strategic and possibly game-changing move.The Samudra Manthan – Offshore Exploration Scheme aims to unlock India’s offshore oil and gas potential. This will be done through large-scale seismic surveys, deepwater exploration, scientific drilling, shared offshore infrastructure and an integrated manufacturing ecosystem.The scheme is expected to add over 600 Million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE) of reserves and will be implemented through FY 2030-31.Some of the key aspects of the scheme include:India is a major oil importer with nearly 90% of its crude oil needs being met through imports.
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