# Centre sets up empowered panel for oil and gas exploration

2026-08-13T00:41:32+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The government has formed an empowered committee of secretaries (ECS) for the upstream oil and gas sector, covering nomination fields and all contractual regimes, including NELP, OALP, CBM, and discovered small fields. The panel includes secretaries from the ministries of petroleum, coal, expenditure, and law. The ECS will review and recommend auctions, finalise fiscal and contractual terms, and resolve contractual issues. Approvals from the oil minister and finance minister will continue as before. The committee can also recommend policy changes aligned with the amended Petroleum Act and Rules.

## Coverage

- thehindubusinessline.com <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/govt-constitutes-empowered-committee-of-secretaries-for-oil-gas-upstream-sector/article71333373.ece>

Tags: ECS, exploration, government panel, oil & gas, upstream
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