UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet okays ₹84,084-cr. Samudra Manthan for offshore exploration

Q1. The Samudra Manthan scheme approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2026 is structured around how many distinct ring-fenced funding components, each with a separately earmarked outlay?

  • A. Two
  • B. Six
  • C. Four
  • D. Eight

Q2. The ₹84,084-crore outlay cleared by the Union Cabinet in July 2026 for offshore hydrocarbon exploration up to FY 2030-31 is to be implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • B. Ministry of Mines
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the funding components of the Samudra Manthan scheme: 1. The outlay for accelerated deepwater exploratory drilling is larger than the outlay for offshore data acquisition. 2. The outlay for common offshore infrastructure hubs is larger than the outlay for the oil and gas manufacturing and services zones. 3. Under the drilling component, government support is limited to 50% of the eligible drilling cost or ₹675 crore per well, whichever is higher. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The outlay for accelerated deepwater exploratory drilling is larger than the outlay for offshore data acquisition.
  2. The outlay for common offshore infrastructure hubs is larger than the outlay for the oil and gas manufacturing and services zones.
  3. Under the drilling component, government support is limited to 50% of the eligible drilling cost or ₹675 crore per well, whichever is higher.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the offshore energy initiative announced from the Red Fort in 2025 with the scheme subsequently approved by the Union Cabinet: 1. The Red Fort announcement was styled the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, whereas the scheme cleared by the Cabinet is titled the National Offshore Exploration Scheme. 2. The Red Fort announcement placed the deepwater mission alongside expansions in solar, hydrogen, hydro and nuclear power as part of an energy-independence push. 3. Unlike the Red Fort announcement, which spoke of oil and gas reserves beneath the sea, the Cabinet-approved scheme confines its drilling support to shallow-water acreage. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Red Fort announcement was styled the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, whereas the scheme cleared by the Cabinet is titled the National Offshore Exploration Scheme.
  2. The Red Fort announcement placed the deepwater mission alongside expansions in solar, hydrogen, hydro and nuclear power as part of an energy-independence push.
  3. Unlike the Red Fort announcement, which spoke of oil and gas reserves beneath the sea, the Cabinet-approved scheme confines its drilling support to shallow-water acreage.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. As reported by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, how many exploration and production blocks have been awarded across the nine concluded bid rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Programme?

  • A. 134
  • B. 210
  • C. 191
  • D. 172

Q6. The bid rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Programme under the HELP regime are launched and administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, the sector's downstream regulator
  • B. Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, the ministry's data and analysis wing
  • C. Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, the sector's upstream regulator
  • D. Oil Industry Development Board, the sector's development-financing arm

Q7. Consider the following statements about the reserve-accretion target of the Samudra Manthan scheme relative to India's assessed hydrocarbon reserves: 1. The targeted accretion of over 600 MMTOE is larger than India's total assessed recoverable crude oil reserves, placed at about 651.8 million metric tonnes. 2. MMTOE expresses oil and gas volumes on a common energy-equivalent basis, so the target covers accretion of natural gas as well as crude oil. 3. The target is to be realised over the scheme period running up to FY 2030-31. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The targeted accretion of over 600 MMTOE is larger than India's total assessed recoverable crude oil reserves, placed at about 651.8 million metric tonnes.
  2. MMTOE expresses oil and gas volumes on a common energy-equivalent basis, so the target covers accretion of natural gas as well as crude oil.
  3. The target is to be realised over the scheme period running up to FY 2030-31.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3