Congress alleges Samudra Manthan scheme tailored for Adani, demands ONGC funding
Congress alleges the ₹84,084-crore Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme is designed to benefit Adani Group, demanding its scrapping or full fund diversion to ONGC.
The Congress party on Monday (August 31, 2026) alleged that the Centre's ₹84,084-crore Samudra Manthan scheme for offshore hydrocarbon exploration was designed to benefit the Adani Group. The party demanded that the scheme be scrapped or its entire outlay be diverted to the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Speaking at 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. He claimed the framework provides substantial financial support to companies undertaking offshore exploration, including Adani-owned Well Spun Exploration Limited (AWEL).
Gohil alleged that the government would provide up to 50% financial support for activities such as deep-sea drilling, 2D and 3D seismic surveys, AI-assisted reprocessing of geological data, and development of offshore infrastructure. He noted that deep-sea oil exploration is an expensive business, with a single exploration well potentially costing over ₹1,100 crore.
AWEL holds exploration rights in blocks in the Mumbai Offshore Basin, Tapi-Daman, and Kutch, and has announced plans to begin major exploration activities in the coming months, Gohil said.
Questioning the rationale behind supporting private companies, Gohil asked why ONGC, with its decades of experience, was not being given the primary role in the national mission. "Why is the Modi government damaging the interests of its own ONGC to benefit one private company?" he asked.
The Congress demanded that the scheme be scrapped or the entire ₹84,084 crore be diverted to ONGC to create jobs and facilitate exploration.
The government has described Samudra Manthan, or the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, as a Central Sector scheme aimed at reducing exploration risks and encouraging investment in the hydrocarbon sector. To be implemented until 2030-31, the scheme aims to strengthen India's energy security, accelerate domestic exploration and production, and promote technological development.
There was no immediate response from the government or the Adani Group to the allegations.