Alleging that the Centre’s ₹84,084-crore Samudra Manthan scheme for offshore hydrocarbon exploration was designed to benefit the Adani Group, the Congress on Monday (August 31, 2026) demanded that it either be scrapped or that its entire outlay be diverted to the public sector Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
There was no response from the government or the Adani Group to the Congress’s allegations. Mr. Oil exploration, particularly in deep-sea areas, is a very expensive business, Mr.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said the Union Cabinet approved the scheme last month with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore for its first phase, and claimed that it had created a framework under which companies undertaking offshore exploration, including Adani-owned Well Spun Exploration Limited (AWEL), would receive substantial financial support from the government. Gohil said the government would provide up to 50% financial support for activities including deep-sea drilling, 2D and 3D seismic surveys, artificial intelligence-assisted reprocessing of geological data, and the development of offshore infrastructure. Gohil said, claiming that the cost of drilling a single deep-sea exploration well could exceed ₹1,100 crore. The scheme, to be implemented until 2030-2031, aims to strengthen India’s energy security, accelerate domestic exploration and production, and promote technological development, according to the government.
“The Narendra Modi government has designed a framework in which Adani will be doled out support under the Samudra Manthan scheme,” he alleged. “We demand that the Samudra Manthan scheme should be scrapped or the entire amount of ₹84,084 crore should be diverted to the government’s own public-sector energy giant, ONGC, to create jobs and facilitate exploration,” Mr. Gohil said.
