New Delhi, May 21 -- India is gearing up for one of its largest offshore oil and gas exploration campaigns in recent years.

The government has planned extensive geological surveys across multiple eastern offshore basins.

The timing is no coincidence. India still sources nearly 85% of its crude oil from overseas, along with a significant chunk of its natural gas needs.

That dependence leaves the economy exposed; any spike in global crude prices, geopolitical flare-up, or supply disruption abroad quickly feeds into higher fuel costs and inflation at home.

According to media reports, survey ships are expected to soon begin scanning vast stretches of the Bay of Bengal and nearby offshore regions to hunt for commercially viable hydrocarbon...