Govt extends offshore bidding deadline to March 31, 2027

The government has extended the deadline for submitting bids under its Offshore Bidding Round 2026 by four months to March 31, 2027, following requests from international oil companies (IOCs).
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced the decision in a press release issued on Wednesday, saying the original deadline of November 30, 2026, had been extended to allow interested companies more time to prepare their bids.
The ministry said the decision followed recent discussions with several internationally renowned oil companies, which sought more time for the bidding process.
It also said data-sale packages for the bidding round had been made more accessible to encourage wider participation.
The extended deadline will give prospective bidders additional time to assess the available data and prepare proposals for offshore exploration, the ministry added.
The government expects the deadline extension and improved access to data packages to attract greater interest from international oil companies in the bidding round.