Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri delivered the valedictory address at the two-day National Conference 'Pathways to Viksit Bharat: A Centenary Conclave' organized by Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The Minister announced the Government of India's approval of the Samudra Manthan Scheme (National Offshore Exploration Scheme) with an outlay of ₹84,084 crore, aimed at unlocking India's vast offshore hydrocarbon potential and strengthening energy security. The scheme focuses on accelerating exploration, deploying modern technology, creating shared infrastructure, and strengthening domestic manufacturing.
Minister Puri emphasized the critical interplay between continuity and change in India's developmental journey, urging students to leverage their academic training to exercise critical judgment and transform practical challenges into productive enterprises. He specifically highlighted the GOBARdhan scheme launched on 1 October, underscoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Waste to Wealth' and 'Annadata to Urjadata', noting that converting agricultural residue and organic waste into domestic energy represents a practical commercial opportunity that serves farmers, generates economic returns, and strengthens national energy security.
The Minister highlighted India's resilience amidst global economic turbulence and geopolitical disruptions, noting that the country successfully maintained essential fuel supply continuity during recent West Asian crises through diversification of energy sources and bolstering of domestic capacities. Reiterating Prime Minister Modi's recent call to SRCC students, Puri challenged the youth to build world-class Indian institutions and enterprises rooted in reliability, innovation, and international trust, expressing firm confidence that the youth entering their professional prime will drive India towards becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.