India has taken a major step towards strengthening its upstream petroleum sector and energy security with the signing of contracts for the Special Coal Bed Methane, or CBM, Bid Rounds 2025 and 2026. The contracts were signed in the presence of industry leaders and senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
Along with the contract signing, the India Hydrocarbon Outlook 2026 was also launched. The initiative marks a renewed push for unconventional gas exploration in the country.
India has an estimated Coal Bed Methane resource base of 2,600 billion cubic metres. This large resource base offers significant potential to increase domestic gas production and reduce dependence on imported energy.
The country’s domestic hydrocarbon production is expected to receive a major boost through the Samudra Manthan programme. Launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the programme aims to unlock offshore resources through new seismic surveys, shared drilling costs for around 60 deep-water and ultra-deep-water wells, and the development of common offshore infrastructure.
The next phase of growth in India’s upstream petroleum sector will be driven by science-based exploration, technology-enabled development and stronger collaboration among the government, industry, service providers, technology partners and research institutions.
The signing of the CBM contracts and the launch of the India Hydrocarbon Outlook 2026 reflect India’s efforts to build a stronger and more self-reliant upstream petroleum sector. These initiatives are expected to support domestic energy production, attract investment and strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.
Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
