Cabinet awards 31 oil blocks to 22 firms

India had received bids for 34 of 46 oil and gas fields that were auctioned in May

In an investment push to the oil sector, the Union Cabinet has awarded 31 oil and gas exploration blocks (44 fields) to 23 companies, of the 46 contract areas put on offer under the discovered small and marginal fields (DSF) round of auction. 
This is likely to bring in a gross revenue of Rs 46,000 crore over a period of 15 years, of which the government’s share is likely to be Rs 9,600 crore. 
Blocks not cleared for awarding are likely to be put on offer during the second round of DSF. Of the 23 companies, about 15 are entrants