VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html IICT, Netflix announce scholarships for 100 students; applications open till September 30 Kartik Aaryan resumes shooting for Anurag Basu’s romantic drama with Sreeleela while recovering from knee surgery with close-up scenes planned around his recovery – Report Beginner’s guide to understanding Indian handloom fabrics Raksha Bandhan 2026 (Aug 28): Puja Vidhi, Bhadra Timings & Shubh Muhurat to Tie Rakhi Training aircraft crashes near Ganga Barrage in Kanpur; pilot killed, another critical Brazil’s polluted Rio mangroves were disappearing under waste; then local fishers restored 18.2 hectares and more than 60 animal species returned | World News Satkar Sakhis played crucial role in making Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna successful Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said 76.11 lakh women have been registered under the state government’s Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna.He said a sum of Rs 2,381 crore has already been transferred into the accounts of 68.06 lakh women.Under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana, women from the general category receive Rs 1,000 per month, while those belonging to the Scheduled Castes get Rs 1,500.Mann said the Punjab government’s commitment to women’s welfare would remain unwavering and the financial aid scheme for women would not be discontinued as long as the AAP remained in power in Punjab.He also said a sum of Rs 52.20 crore has been transferred to the accounts of 1.37 lakh ‘Satkar Sakhis’, while recognising their contribution in taking this scheme to women across Punjab.The chief minister said ‘Satkar Sakhis’ would receive Rs 300 for every registration, enabling them to earn more than Rs 200 crore through the initiative.”‘Satkar Sakhis’ have played a crucial role in taking this scheme to women across Punjab. Their dedicated efforts have enabled more than 75 lakh women to get registered under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAddressing a gathering virtually, Mann said his government launched the scheme in recognition of the dignity and respect of women.This financial assistance may not make women rich, but it will certainly provide them dignity and self-respect. Women deserve the highest respect because they are the source of life itself, and the blessings of mothers and sisters can help overcome every challenge in the world, he stated.Punjab AAP’s women wing president and MLA Amandeep Kaur also lauded the dedicated contribution of ‘Satkar Sakhis’ and the entire women wing in taking the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna to women across Punjab, saying they were not merely helping women fill forms but were becoming a source of support in transforming their lives.PTIGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos18 Rounds, Point-Blank: How Haryanvi Singer Ankit Balyan Was Gunned Down Outside Gym In UPIndia-China Talks Yield 8-Point Consensus; New Military Hotlines, Border Talks On The TableSkardu Base Was India’s Target During Operation Sindoor, Ex-CDS Reveals Why Strike Was Aborted’Gone In Seconds’: Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Missing, 77 Isha Foundation Members Among ThemSinger Mary Millben Hits Back Over ‘Anti-Modi’ Politics Over Mohan Bhagwat New York Event105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original Estimate123Photostories7 houseplants that may help keep mosquitoes away: From basil to mintCan infections such as mumps affect male fertility years later?Psychology says why the sibling you couldn’t stand as a child can become the person you trust most as an adultFrom working in Bhojpuri cinema, signing random films to pay his rent to earning Rs 1.5 lakh for one episode of Comedy Circus; When Krushna Abhishek opened up about his journeyLoro Piana to Zegna: Lesser-known luxury sneaker brands the old-money tribe knows by heart10 baby boy names with powerful meanings and fascinating ancient rootsIntuition or fear? 5 ways to tell what your gut is really telling youPrincess Diana’s ‘Last Ring’ from Dodi Al-Fayed: The mystery behind the ‘Dis-moi Oui’ ringRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? 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Horoscope Insights A Perth homeowner hired agents to sell his house; a company they owned bought it for $705,000, their interest was disclosed six weeks later, and the homeowner later obtained an $800,000 valuation Sriram Kartik Sriram Kartik sweeps 10 awards including the ‘Best Junior contestant’ across Carnatic vocal and mrudangam; prizes presented by eminent Vidwan Sikkil Gurucharan on 23 Aug 2026 in MumbaiA fifteen-year-old from Powai has won ten awards at the Music Competition 2026 conducted by Sri Shanmukhananda Bharatiya Sangeetha Vidyalaya and Natya Vidyalaya, competing in both Carnatic vocal and mrudangam.Sriram Kartik received awards at prize distribution ceremony held on Sunday (Aug 23, 2026) on the occasion of Shanmukhananda’s Carnataka Sangeetha Pon Mazhai Thiruvizha. Sriram Kartik, a Class X IGCSE student at Podar International School, received the awards at the prize distribution ceremony held on Sunday (Aug 23, 2026) on the occasion of Shanmukhananda’s Carnataka Sangeetha Pon Mazhai Thiruvizha, at the Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha in Matunga. The prizes were presented by Shanmukha Sangeetha Shiromani Vidwan Shri Sikkil Gurucharan, the eminent Carnatic vocalist, who presided over the ceremony.Vidwan Sikkil C Gurucharan is a leading Indian Carnatic classical vocalist and youth ambassador for the art form. A singer born into a family of flautists, and grandson of Sikkil Kunjumani, the elder of the Sikkil Sisters, he trained under B Krishnamurthy and Vaigal S. Gnanaskandan, himself a disciple of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and gave his first concert at The Music Academy, Chennai at the age of twelve. Recipient of the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu government in 2020, Sikkil C Gurucharan has been featured by India Today as one of the 35 Game Changers Under 35 in India.Sriram Kartik won 9 individual prizes — five first prizes, three seconds and one third. He was also awarded a cash prize for being the Best Junior contestant winning the maximum number of prizes in the 10-to-15 years age category.The competition, the Vidyalaya’s 70th annual, was held on February 7 and 8 across Carnatic vocal, violin, veena, mrudangam, Hindustani vocal, sitar and tabla. It drew more than 300 participants from across India and overseas, contesting in three age groups: 10 to 15, 16 to 28, and 29 and above.Sriram’s two mrudangam prizes came in the only two categories open to his age group — a first for tani avartanam in roopakam and misra chapu talams, and a second for adi talam with five jathi mohras, awarded under the TS Nandakumar’s Percussive Arts Centre Endowment and the Guru TS Nandakumar Endowment respectively.His seven vocal prizes spanned first places in compositions of the Trinity, varnams, Purandaradasa kritis; the Silver Lamp Prize for keertanams and kritis; second places in Subramania Bharatiyar compositions and Tamizh compositions; and a third in GNB kritis.Every prize at Shanmukhananda is attached to an endowment instituted in the name of an artist, a patron or an institution. He won awards under the following endowments namely – GNB Endowment, the Kalki Memorial, the Dr S Pinakapani Endowment, the BVS Iyengar Memorial and the Lakshmi Gopalakrishna Memorial. The Best Junior award came under the Smt. Parvathy Subramaniam Endowment and S Ramakrishnan Memorial.Sriram began learning the mrudangam at the age of five, under Acharya Ratna Vidwan Mumbai Shri Shankaranarayanan at Powai Fine Arts. A decade on, he has kept at it through the school years in which most students of classical music quietly stop — the age at which coaching classes, board examinations and the ordinary pull of everything else tend to close the practice room door for good.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSustaining it alongside school is the part a prize list does not show. Practice sessions run two and a half to three hours. Nine vocal categories at 5-6 compositions a piece meant something close to 45-50 pieces in which he participated of which he won prizes across seven categories, readied to a standard that would survive a judging panel, with two percussion categories besides.He now receives higher tutelage in mrudangam from Padma Vibhushan and Sangeet Natak Academi Awardee Vidwan Dr Umayalpuram K Sivaraman, and trains in Carnatic vocal music under Acharya Ratnakara Vidwan Sherthalai Dr KN Renganatha Sharma and Vidushi Dr Mohana Sharma. He holds a CCRT Scholarship for Mrudangam from the ministry of culture, and presented his mrudangam arangetram in June last year, the day after his fourteenth birthday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos18 Rounds, Point-Blank: How Haryanvi Singer Ankit Balyan Was Gunned Down Outside Gym In UPIndia-China Talks Yield 8-Point Consensus; New Military Hotlines, Border Talks On The TableSkardu Base Was India’s Target During Operation Sindoor, Ex-CDS Reveals Why Strike Was Aborted’Gone In Seconds’: Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Missing, 77 Isha Foundation Members Among ThemSinger Mary Millben Hits Back Over ‘Anti-Modi’ Politics Over Mohan Bhagwat New York Event105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original Estimate123Photostories7 houseplants that may help keep mosquitoes away: From basil to mintCan infections such as mumps affect male fertility years later?Psychology says why the sibling you couldn’t stand as a child can become the person you trust most as an adultFrom working in Bhojpuri cinema, signing random films to pay his rent to earning Rs 1.5 lakh for one episode of Comedy Circus; When Krushna Abhishek opened up about his journeyLoro Piana to Zegna: Lesser-known luxury sneaker brands the old-money tribe knows by heart10 baby boy names with powerful meanings and fascinating ancient rootsIntuition or fear? 5 ways to tell what your gut is really telling youPrincess Diana’s ‘Last Ring’ from Dodi Al-Fayed: The mystery behind the ‘Dis-moi Oui’ ringRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right way123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderDelhi MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy Virender Sehwag’s son Aaryavir named in India’s U-19 squad for Australia series What if Pluto became a planet again? The surprising problem astronomers would face ‘Ranbir Kapoor’s Contessa picked us from school during Bombay riots, our school was in the middle of Shivaji Park and a dargah,’ recalls Sikandar Kher opening up on friendship with him, Abhishek Bachchan Salil Ankola Weight Loss: Salil Ankola’s 15 Kg weight loss at 58: How working out, sleeping well and eating right helped him transform Hospital charged ICU fee despite general ward stay, West Bengal commission orders Rs 2.75 lakh payout China Dam Collapse: ‘Accusation helps nothing’: China rejects Nepal’s ‘dam collapse’ claim over floods ‘Ramayana’ star Ravie Dubey shares romantic holiday pictures with wife Sargun Mehta and heartfelt note, calling her ‘my greatest super power’: ‘I have witnessed the ferocity with which she prays for me’ 6 anime about assassins that fans of dark action stories should watch Nepal floods: From rescue to relief, India’s armed forces spring to action Humans stepped back from this UK dairy farm in 2023; three years later, wildlife returns as 27 more bird species appear and butterfly numbers more than double | World News The community advisory was issued after intense criticism of the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’, to be held on Saturday at Madison Square Garden (Photo: Reuters). American non-profit organisation, The Hindu American Foundation has issued an advisory ahead of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s event in New York City, advising citizens to stay vigilant, aware, and civilised.”HAF is issuing this security alert in advance of the Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Stay vigilant, remain situationally aware, and keep interactions civil. Ahead of the event, activists targeting Hindu Americans have attempted to disrupt and cancel the celebration”, HAF posted on X, while also urging New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to ensure the safety of the event attendees.The community advisory was issued after intense criticism of the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’, to be held on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.On Tuesday, Mamdani expressed his lack of support for Bhagwat’s event while admitting his office cannot cancel it.“I don’t support the rally, but I don’t know if the city has any jurisdiction on cancelling a private event,” he told reporters.United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) asked US government to consider sanctions against the RSS, alleging deterioration of religious freedom in India.”We urge the US government to consider targeted sanctions against RSS members and Indian officials complicit in religious freedom violations, including revoking the visa issued to Mohan Bhagwat and making him ineligible for future entry into the United States”, the body said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe USCIRF is Chaired by Pakistani-American Asif Mahmood.The body has previously been dismissed by the ministry of external affairs over bias and lack of credibility.”We all know this is a biased institution. For years, it has made incorrect and provocative statements about India. We should ignore such institutions, as they have their own agendas and lack credibility”, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during an August 21 press briefing.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPranjal PandeyPranjal Pandey is an intern at The Times of India. He holds a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and covers Real Estate, Defence, and International Relations, among other beats.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos18 Rounds, Point-Blank: How Haryanvi Singer Ankit Balyan Was Gunned Down Outside Gym In UPIndia-China Talks Yield 8-Point Consensus; New Military Hotlines, Border Talks On The TableSkardu Base Was India’s Target During Operation Sindoor, Ex-CDS Reveals Why Strike Was Aborted’Gone In Seconds’: Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Missing, 77 Isha Foundation Members Among ThemSinger Mary Millben Hits Back Over ‘Anti-Modi’ Politics Over Mohan Bhagwat New York Event105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original Estimate123Photostories7 houseplants that may help keep mosquitoes away: From basil to mintCan infections such as mumps affect male fertility years later?Psychology says why the sibling you couldn’t stand as a child can become the person you trust most as an adultFrom working in Bhojpuri cinema, signing random films to pay his rent to earning Rs 1.5 lakh for one episode of Comedy Circus; When Krushna Abhishek opened up about his journeyLoro Piana to Zegna: Lesser-known luxury sneaker brands the old-money tribe knows by heart10 baby boy names with powerful meanings and fascinating ancient rootsIntuition or fear? 5 ways to tell what your gut is really telling youPrincess Diana’s ‘Last Ring’ from Dodi Al-Fayed: The mystery behind the ‘Dis-moi Oui’ ringRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? 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Harvard scientists put the question to yeast Rajinikanth confirms ‘Jailer 2’ shooting wrap; ‘Dharman’ shoot underway – watch VIDEO Another Alaska plane crash: Four dead as aircraft falls into water Zebra mussel DNA detected in Utah’s Colorado River for first time, raising alarm over invasive species threat across the Upper Colorado River basin In the last five months, a little over 1.4 lakh households surrendered their LPG connections. NEW DELHI: Only about 20% of LPG consumers who have a PNG network in their neighbourhood and can switch to the cleaner fuel have actually converted to piped gas despite govt’s push following the military conflict in West Asia earlier this year.Of the 21.7 lakh consumers identified by city gas distribution (CGD) companies as having access to a PNG network and being eligible to switch, only 4.4 lakh have applied so far, while connections of 3.3 lakh consumers have been activated, govt data showed.These consumers are spread across more than 72,000 housing societies in 311 geographical areas where PNG networks are available through oil companies, and public sector and private CGD entities.Data also showed that more than 21 lakh households were sent WhatsApp messages and eight lakh were given physical notices to switch to PNG. More than 33,000 camps were also organised, but conversion remained low. In the last five months, a little over 1.4 lakh households surrendered their LPG connections.While the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board had launched two campaigns to promote PNG, the real push came from govt during the peak of the West Asia conflict in March and April, when supplies through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted and India faced a squeeze on LPG imports.Of the 33 million tonne of LPG consumed in 2025-26, India domestically produced about 13 MT, while the remaining requirement was met through imports, mostly from West Asia. In comparison, India is relatively more comfortable with LNG supplies and domestic gas production.The petroleum ministry in March issued an order to accelerate pipeline infrastructure, ease approvals and promote a shift from LPG to PNG to strengthen energy security. It also asked CGD and oil companies to communicate with LPG consumers who had a PNG network in their area, asking them to switch to piped gas within three months or risk discontinuation of their LPG cylinder supply.Officials said a task force constituted by the ministry for enhancing PNG penetration and mapping LPG-PNG consumers met on Wednesday, with poor conversion rates being discussed. Companies were asked to expand the PNG network. A thorough de-duplication exercise will also be carried out to identify consumers who have both LPG and PNG connections.To accelerate the adoption of piped gas, petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal recently wrote to the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, asking them to provide district-level administrative support and appoint nodal officers to coordinate with gas distributors and oil marketing companies to expand the network.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGovt has also launched an incentive scheme for CGD entities, effective from Sept 1, promising them an additional 200 standard cubic metres of domestically produced, lower-priced APM gas for activating each previously unbilled connection.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos18 Rounds, Point-Blank: How Haryanvi Singer Ankit Balyan Was Gunned Down Outside Gym In UPIndia-China Talks Yield 8-Point Consensus; New Military Hotlines, Border Talks On The TableSkardu Base Was India’s Target During Operation Sindoor, Ex-CDS Reveals Why Strike Was Aborted’Gone In Seconds’: Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Missing, 77 Isha Foundation Members Among ThemSinger Mary Millben Hits Back Over ‘Anti-Modi’ Politics Over Mohan Bhagwat New York Event105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original Estimate123Photostories7 houseplants that may help keep mosquitoes away: From basil to mintCan infections such as mumps affect male fertility years later?Psychology says why the sibling you couldn’t stand as a child can become the person you trust most as an adultFrom working in Bhojpuri cinema, signing random films to pay his rent to earning Rs 1.5 lakh for one episode of Comedy Circus; When Krushna Abhishek opened up about his journeyLoro Piana to Zegna: Lesser-known luxury sneaker brands the old-money tribe knows by heart10 baby boy names with powerful meanings and fascinating ancient rootsIntuition or fear? 5 ways to tell what your gut is really telling youPrincess Diana’s ‘Last Ring’ from Dodi Al-Fayed: The mystery behind the ‘Dis-moi Oui’ ringRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right way123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderDelhi MurderSamay RainaIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy Rosemary Aroma Jar: Rosemary aroma jar: Easy DIY home freshener to freshen up your room on a budget and add a festive touch In 1962, NASA loaded 22,900 gallons of water onto a Saturn I rocket and deliberately blew the container apart 65 miles above Earth to study what water would do in the upper atmosphere In 2016, a family donated its 42-acre Pennsylvania estate as a free public garden; after surviving an eminent-domain threat, Stoneleigh has now expanded by 10 acres to 52 Petroleum minister Hardeep Puri reviewed the action taken on decisions from two brainstorming sessions on the rollout of the scheme, which received Cabinet’s approval, said officials. (Photo: IANS) NEW DELHI: Government is likely to finalise a year-wise plan soon for drilling, seismic surveys and rig deployment under Samudra Manthan, a Rs 84,084-crore national programme aimed at stepping up oil and gas exploration in India’s offshore basins and reducing dependence on energy imports.Officials said petroleum minister Hardeep Puri recently reviewed the action taken on decisions from two brainstorming sessions held in Gurgaon in Haryana and Duliajan in Assam, on the rollout of the scheme, which received Cabinet’s approval last month.The year-wise roadmap will help government carry out exploration and production activities in a concerted manner across Krishna-Godavari (KG), Mahanadi, Andaman and Cauvery basins and ensure systematic utilisation of funds, an official said.The scheme will fund acquisition, processing and interpretation of seismic data, scientific drilling in frontier basins, accelerated exploration in deepwater and ultra-deepwater blocks, and development of shared offshore production and evacuation infrastructure.While Rs 43,200 crore has been earmarked for drilling 60 exploratory deepwater wells over five years, Rs 28,534 crore has been allocated for acquisition of 2D and 3D seismic data, Rs 10,000 crore for common infrastructure hubs and Rs 2,000 crore for an oil and gas manufacturing and services zone.India’s annual crude oil requirement is around 256 million tonnes (MT), of which nearly 88 per cent is imported. Domestic crude oil production from 26 sedimentary basins is estimated at around 28 MT. With domestic output stagnating even as demand continues to rise, government has been looking to step up exploration to improve energy security and reduce import dependence.Samudra Manthan is expected to add more than 600 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent (MMTOE) to the country’s hydrocarbon reserves and boost domestic production of crude oil and natural gas.Officials said government has implemented a series of upstream sector reforms over the past decade, including opening up almost the entire offshore acreage for exploration, changes to legal and contractual framework, and strengthening National Data Repository. Samudra Manthan would complement these reforms by providing public funding for offshore exploration and facilitating the deployment of advanced technologies, they said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe scheme also includes dedicated provisions for digital programme management, capacity building, technology adoption, stakeholder engagement and international outreach, creating an integrated ecosystem to accelerate offshore exploration and production in the country.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos18 Rounds, Point-Blank: How Haryanvi Singer Ankit Balyan Was Gunned Down Outside Gym In UPIndia-China Talks Yield 8-Point Consensus; New Military Hotlines, Border Talks On The TableSkardu Base Was India’s Target During Operation Sindoor, Ex-CDS Reveals Why Strike Was Aborted’Gone In Seconds’: Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Missing, 77 Isha Foundation Members Among ThemSinger Mary Millben Hits Back Over ‘Anti-Modi’ Politics Over Mohan Bhagwat New York Event105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original Estimate123Photostories7 houseplants that may help keep mosquitoes away: From basil to mintCan infections such as mumps affect male fertility years later?Psychology says why the sibling you couldn’t stand as a child can become the person you trust most as an adultFrom working in Bhojpuri cinema, signing random films to pay his rent to earning Rs 1.5 lakh for one episode of Comedy Circus; When Krushna Abhishek opened up about his journeyLoro Piana to Zegna: Lesser-known luxury sneaker brands the old-money tribe knows by heart10 baby boy names with powerful meanings and fascinating ancient rootsIntuition or fear? 5 ways to tell what your gut is really telling youPrincess Diana’s ‘Last Ring’ from Dodi Al-Fayed: The mystery behind the ‘Dis-moi Oui’ ringRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? 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Decades later, the light-footed Ridgway’s rail declined to just 5 breeding pairs India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 notification out for 25,000+ posts, check eligibility, dates and application details Tim Curry passes away at 80: Former co-stars Carol Burnett, Michael McKean, Luke Evans and other Hollywood celebs pay touching tribute Raksha Bandhan 2026: What the stars say about your sibling bond Nepal floods: Aerial views reveal trail of destruction after powerful surge of ice, mud and boulders Who was Andreethegirl? TikToker Andree Greig Baudoin dies at 39 after cancer battle Aug 27, 2026, 08:00 IST Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for August 27, 2026 – check list RRB NTPC UG CBT 2 exam on September 17, check city slip and admit card dates Dolly Parton’s USD 650 million empire: A look into her business ventures over the years What triggered Nepal’s catastrophic flash floods? USGS rules out earthquake