India’s National Deep Water Exploration Mission, dubbed “Samudra Manthan” by leaders, represents a strategic push to unlock deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil and gas reserves beneath the Indian Ocean as part of a broader plan to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported energy supplies. The initiative was highlighted by the Prime Minister as part of India’s efforts to strengthen energy self-reliance and fuel economic stability. Nearly 88 % of India’s crude oil and about half of its natural gas demand currently comes from imports, making energy security a pressing concern for policymakers.

The mission will focus on frontier offshore basins — such as the Andaman-Nicobar region and areas off the Andhra and Kerala coasts — that have historically been underexplored due to high costs and technological challenges. By opening previously restricted areas for exploration and employing advanced survey and drilling technologies, authorities hope to attract investment and accelerate discovery and production.

Early steps in deepwater exploration have already shown promise, including recent gas finds in the Andaman Basin that indicate genuine hydrocarbon potential offshore. While it will take years for offshore output to scale commercially, even incremental increases could help reduce import bills, strengthen energy autonomy and support the transition toward cleaner fuels. The mission complements India’s renewable energy ambitions, balancing long-term sustainability with near-term domestic resource development.