New Delhi, July 30 -- India is witnessing renewed momentum in oil and gas exploration, driven by the opening of nearly one million square kilometres of previously restricted offshore areas, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The move, initiated in 2022, has significantly expanded exploration opportunities, particularly in deepwater and frontier basins such as the Andaman-Nicobar (AN) offshore region.

"This strategic opening has triggered a surge in offshore exploration, unlocking previously inaccessible geological frontiers," the minister stated.

Since 2015, Exploration and Production (E&P) companies in India have reported 172 hydrocarbon discoveries, 62 of which are in offshore a...