'Samudra Manthan' Project Gets Cabinet Nod: India Aims for Energy Security with Rs 84,000 Crore Deep-Sea Exploration

The Indian government is set to approve an ambitious deep-sea oil and gas exploration program worth Rs 84,000 crore in its first phase. The 'Samudra Manthan' project aims to accelerate deep-sea offshore exploration for oil and natural gas, with the goal of strengthening India's energy security.

The program was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2025, as part of efforts to reduce import dependence and improve long-term energy security. The government plans to provide policy and financial support for high-risk offshore exploration activities, which have remained limited due to the high cost and uncertainty of discovering commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves.

The 'Samudra Manthan' project is expected to significantly boost exploration in India's frontier offshore basins and attract global energy majors through policy reforms and fresh licensing rounds. The government aims to draw investors by funding up to 50 percent of high-risk exploratory well costs, thereby de-risking deep-sea drilling.

The initiative will also focus on unlocking 'no-go' zones in areas such as the Andaman Sea and the deep waters off the Andhra coast, where intensive exploration efforts have been previously restricted. The project aims to map seabed hydrocarbons through seismic data acquisition across 2.5 lakh square kilometers.