Cabinet okays ₹84,000 crore for Samudra Manthan, extends PM-Kisan
The Union Cabinet approved the ₹84,000 crore Samudra Manthan scheme to enhance India's offshore hydrocarbon exploration, aiming to unlock significant reserves through deepwater drilling and infrastructure development. Concurrently, the cabinet extended the PM-Kisan income support scheme for farmers for an additional five years at a cost of ₹3.15 trillion, aimed at boosting rural incomes. This initiative is expected to increase domestic oil and gas production and strengthen indigenous manufacturing, addressing India's high dependence on crude oil imports.