India has extended bid submission deadlines for oil and gas exploration under two government licensing tracks, setting the new cut-off for both at June 19. The tenth licensing round, launched in February 2025, has now received its fifth extension since its debut, following a prior deadline of May 29. Separately, the eleventh round under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), introduced in March, was also extended to the same date. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons offered no reason.
India’s crude oil and natural gas output kept falling in 2025-26, extending an 11-year slide as ageing fields drain production and new discoveries fail to replace losses. The result: rising import dependence. Even with policy reforms, foreign investment remains limited and fears over policy stability are discouraging exploration needed to reverse domestic decline.
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