The Union Cabinet has approved the Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme to increase India’s domestic production of crude oil and natural gas, strengthen energy security, and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

About Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme

• Samudra Manthan is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
• It is implemented through national oil companies and other exploration agencies under the Ministry.
• The scheme has a total outlay of ₹84,084 crore.

Objectives of the Scheme

• Increase domestic exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas from offshore basins.
• Reduce India’s dependence on imported hydrocarbons and improve energy security.
• Promote scientific exploration of deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions.
• Develop indigenous offshore technology, manufacturing and services.
• Create employment and attract investment in the petroleum sector.

Major Components

• ₹43,200 crore has been earmarked for drilling 60 deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration wells such as Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery, Mahanadi and the Andaman region.
• The scheme includes large-scale acquisition and interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data to improve exploration success.
• It provides for scientific drilling in frontier offshore basins to assess untapped hydrocarbon reserves.
• It also proposes common offshore production and evacuation infrastructure to improve operational efficiency.
• An Integrated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zone will be developed to strengthen India’s offshore energy ecosystem.

Why is the Scheme Important?

• Offshore basins are estimated to contain nearly 31% of India’s crude oil and natural gas resources.
• The scheme aims to add over 600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent to India’s reserves.
• It is expected to reduce crude oil imports, saving nearly ₹1 lakh crore annually in import expenditure.
• It will boost employment, domestic manufacturing, technological innovation and energy resilience.

Environmental Concerns

• Deep-sea drilling may affect fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Oil spills, underwater noise and offshore infrastructure can impact fisheries and coastal habitats.
• Therefore, projects must comply with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, and the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, along with strict environmental safeguards.

Other Related Government Initiatives

• Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP): Introduced a revenue-sharing regime and a uniform licensing system for hydrocarbons.
• Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP): Allows companies to choose and bid for exploration blocks throughout the year.
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025: Introduces a unified 30-year lease and permits renewable energy integration.
• Deep Ocean Mission: Implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences to promote deep-sea exploration through initiatives such as Matsya-6000.
• National Data Repository: Maintains India’s geoscientific exploration database for investors.
• National Seismic Programme: Conducts seismic surveys of unexplored sedimentary basins to improve hydrocarbon exploration.

Exam Hook Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme:

1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
2. It aims to promote deepwater and ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon exploration.
3. It focuses on increasing India’s dependence on imported crude oil.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

One-line Wrap:

Samudra Manthan is India’s flagship offshore exploration initiative aimed at strengthening energy security through increased domestic oil and gas production while balancing environmental sustainability.