The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), through the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), convened a Data Driven Exploration Conference on April 17, 2026 under the Samudra Manthan — National Offshore Mission, to engage industry on accelerating India's exploration outcomes through a stronger data ecosystem. The conference was chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and saw participation from over 80 delegates including officials from MoPNG and DGH, executives from National Oil Companies, global Exploration and Production majors such as BP, ExxonMobil and Shell, Indian operators including Reliance Industries, Cairn India and Adani Welspun Exploration, and seismic services firms such as SLB and Shearwater GeoServices. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India is moving "from blind exploration to data-driven discovery", and emphasised the need for a more collaborative and open data ecosystem. Industry representatives flagged that the availability, quality and accessibility of seismic data are critical determinants of exploration success, and that gaps in data coverage, particularly in frontier and deepwater basins, continue to constrain investment inflows. The Samudra Manthan mission seeks to unlock India's vast offshore potential by combining open data, multi-client surveys, and advanced subsurface imaging, in line with the Government's push to raise domestic hydrocarbon output and reduce import dependence. The conference also reviewed progress under the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) and explored a multi-client seismic data acquisition framework consistent with global practice.