The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas announced on 16 October 2026 that the Government of India has approved the Samudra Manthan Scheme (National Offshore Exploration Scheme) with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore. This initiative aims to strengthen energy security by accelerating offshore hydrocarbon exploration and boosting domestic manufacturing. Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri also highlighted the GOBARdhan scheme, launched on 1 October, which converts organic waste into energy. The release does not say when the Samudra Manthan Scheme takes effect.
Key points
- ₹84,084 crore outlay for the Samudra Manthan Scheme to unlock offshore hydrocarbon potential
- Samudra Manthan focuses on modern technology, shared infrastructure, and domestic manufacturing
- GOBARdhan scheme (launched 1 Oct) converts agricultural and organic waste into domestic energy
When it applies
- Valedictory Address at the National Conference ‘Pathways to Viksit Bharat’
- launch of GOBARdhan scheme
Who it affects
- energy sector