India, the world's third-largest oil importer, is accelerating domestic crude exploration efforts following energy supply shocks caused by Middle East conflicts.

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced plans to bid for 250,000 square kilometers of unexplored areas, aiming to increase domestic production from 10% to a more sustainable level.The country expanded its oil suppliers to 41 nations, including Iran and Venezuela, while facing criticism for purchasing Russian oil.

India's focus on offshore exploration in the Andaman Sea, with partnerships like Petrobras and ExxonMobil, highlights its strategy to reduce reliance on imports.Despite challenges like rising energy demand and carbon neutrality goals, Puri remains optimistic about rapid growth in exploration and production.

The 'Samudra Manthan' mission underscores India's commitment to deep-sea oil discovery, though balancing economic growth with environmental concerns remains a key challenge.