India Launches Largest Oil And Gas Bid Round To Boost Energy Security

In a significant move towards strengthening energy security and attracting investment in the exploration and production (E&P) sector, India on Tuesday launched its largest oil and gas bid round, offering 25 blocks spanning 1.91 lakh square kilometers, primarily in offshore areas.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, inaugurated the 10th bid round under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) at the India Energy Week (IEW) 2025, being held at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi.

The latest bid round covers 25 blocks across 13 sedimentary basins, including 19 offshore and six on-land blocks, making it the largest offshore bid round to date, with 1.75 lakh square kilometers dedicated to offshore exploration. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has put forward a total of 1,91,986.21 sq. km for bidding.

The blocks are further categorized into Category-I (9 blocks), Category-II (11 blocks), and Category-III (5 blocks). Notably, 13 blocks, covering 1,33,724 sq. km, fall in deepwater and ultra-deepwater regions.

To enhance transparency and facilitate ease of doing business, the government has introduced a new e-bidding portal for OALP Round X, providing a secure and user-friendly platform for investors.

Minister Puri also extended an invitation to international oil and gas companies attending India Energy Week to invest in India's E&P sector. This bid round marks the first OALP offering since the passage of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act in December 2024, aimed at streamlining regulations and further improving the investment climate in the sector.