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Informist, Monday, Mar. 30, 2026

 

NEW DELHI - The 10th and 11th rounds of the open acreage licensing policy, which allows companies to choose specific blocks they want to explore for energy together, will unlock 262,817 square kilometres for exploration, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said in a social media post Monday.

 

"With OALP Round-XI now live, we unlock vast frontiers beneath our land and seas — powering growth, resilience, and self-reliance. Round-X (~25 blocks; ~182,589 sq km) and Round-XI (~80,228 sq km) are now on offer — together unlocking ~262,817 sq km for exploration," the minister said.

 

The Centre will offer 21 blocks, made up of 12 on-land areas and four shallow water blocks, one deep-sea block, and four ultra-deep-sea blocks as part of the 11th round of the policy, news agency Press Trust of India reported. Dates for submission and closing of bids are yet to be announced. 

 

Official winners of the bids for the 10th round of the policy, which was first announced in February 2025, have not been declared yet. The deadline for submission of bids for the 10th round has been extended multiple times, and the current deadline is May 29.

 

So far, around 172 exploration blocks under the policy till the ninth round, covering 378,652 square kilometres, have been awarded to successful bidders.  End

 

Reported by Anand JC

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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