India’s energy exploration sector is set to enter a new phase with advanced technological studies underway across seven sedimentary basins, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media, the minister said the government’s focus on energy self-reliance has received a significant boost through Mission Anveshan, one of the largest seismic mapping programmes in India’s history. The ₹792 crore initiative, launched in October 2024 under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to conduct 20,000 ground line kilometres (GLK) of seismic surveys. So far, more than 8,000 GLK have already been surveyed, Puri informed.
“From the sands of Rajasthan to the sea depths of the KG Basin, Bharat is mapping its own energy future,” he said, highlighting the programme’s scope and ambition.
The minister noted that about one million square kilometres of offshore area has now been opened for oilfield exploration, and 99 per cent of the previously restricted ‘No-Go’ zones have been cleared. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance India’s oil and gas output while attracting global investors to the sector.
According to Puri, the oil and gas blocks offered under the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) have already drawn considerable attention from both domestic and international energy players. The upcoming OALP Round X, he said, is expected to set new benchmarks for participation and investment.
He further stated that “25 blocks have been marked under OALP-X; 154 exploration blocks are currently active; 14 new oil and gas discoveries have been made; and ONGC is producing 34,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 3 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of gas.”
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also invited public feedback on the Draft Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, Model Revenue Sharing Contract (MRSC), and Petroleum Lease documents. These consultations, the minister said, form part of the government’s broader effort to accelerate exploration and production through policy reforms.
The reforms follow the amendment of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, in March 2025. The new Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) Rules were introduced within three months to streamline exploration and licensing processes ahead of the OALP Round X bidding phase.
According to Puri, these initiatives collectively mark a transformative period for India’s energy landscape. “This is a great time for entrepreneurs and industry leaders to look at oil and gas exploration in India,” he said. “It has never been easier, faster, or more profitable to invest in India’s energy future.”
The government aims to leverage the data and outcomes from Mission Anveshan to identify new hydrocarbon reserves and strengthen India’s energy security while reducing dependence on imports.
