Vinod Bhat
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Puri laid out India’s comprehensive strategy for strengthening upstream exploration and production (E\&P), energy resilience, and international cooperation while speaking in a fireside chat session organised on sidelines of Urja Varta 2025.
A series of major announcements and launches marked the event. Shri Puri unveiled the revised PNG Rules and MRSC, aimed at enhancing policy clarity, boosting investor confidence, and furthering Ease of Doing Business. He also announced the commencement of Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Studies using globally benchmarked methodologies to better estimate India’s resource base. Key MoUs were exchanged during the conclave, including one between bp and ONGC for stratigraphic well studies to deepen understanding of India’s subsurface geology, and another between DGH and NIC to establish a cloud-based National Data Repository for transparent and centralised upstream data management. The Minister also released the India Hydrocarbon Outlook 2024–25, the 32nd edition of DGH’s flagship report, which provides data-driven insights for shaping future E\&P strategies and investment decisions.
As part of the conclave’s innovation showcase, Shri Puri visited the Exhibition Gallery and Innovation Center, which featured over 50 technical posters and more than 15 innovative solutions presented by E\&P operators, start-ups, and academic institutions. He interacted with several participants and acknowledged the importance of continuous technological innovation in shaping the future of India’s upstream industry.
Inter-Ministerial Round Table with Partner States Held on Sidelines of Urja Varta 2025
Reflecting the true spirit of cooperative federalism under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, an Inter-Ministerial Round Table was organised on the sidelines of Urja Varta 2025 to explore energy sector opportunities across states. Ministers and senior officials from 22 States and Union Territories participated in the deliberations.
Shri Puri further informed that India has invested over ₹4 lakh crore in energy infrastructure over the past decade. “These investments have not only strengthened national capacity but also created tangible value at the state level,” he said. With an envisaged investment of ₹30–35 lakh crore over the next 10 years, the coming decade will be pivotal for energy infrastructure development across the country.
Between 2025 and 2035, India is expected to witness significant investments across the entire hydrocarbons value chain. “These investments will require leadership and proactive participation from states. While the Centre remains committed to supporting these efforts through funding, policy, and coordination, we must collectively address recurring challenges,” Shri Puri emphasised.
Urja Varta 2025 reaffirmed India’s steadfast commitment to building a robust, transparent, and investor-friendly upstream energy ecosystem. Through sustained reforms, international collaboration, advanced technology, and visionary policymaking, India continues to position itself as a global energy leader under the leadership of PM Modi.
