Top 20 Oil and Gas Companies in India 2026: Largest & Leading Companies

 India’s oil and gas industry supports transport, manufacturing, power, petrochemicals, aviation and household energy needs. The sector covers exploration, crude oil and gas production, refining, pipelines, LNG terminals, fuel marketing and city gas distribution.

For buyers, suppliers and investors, knowing the leading oil companies in India helps identify major players across the energy value chain. Here are 20 important oil and gas companies shaping India’s energy market in 2026.

Overview of the Oil and Gas Sector in India

India’s energy market includes public-sector enterprises and large private companies. Some focus on upstream exploration and production, while others specialise in refining, fuel marketing, LNG, pipelines or gas distribution.

Among the leading oil producers in India, ONGC, Oil India and Cairn Oil & Gas play major roles in domestic production. IndianOil, Reliance Industries, BPCL and HPCL are important names in refining and petroleum marketing.

The term “largest” also depends on the metric used. IndianOil is India’s largest refiner and a leading downstream company, while ONGC is the dominant domestic crude oil and natural gas producer. Reliance operates the world’s largest single-site refining complex at Jamnagar.

Top 20 Oil and Gas Companies in India

1. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil)

IndianOil is one of the major oil companies in India, with operations across refining, pipelines, fuel marketing, petrochemicals and natural gas. In FY 2025-26, its refineries processed 75.45 million metric tonnes of crude. For searches around the largest oil company in India, IndianOil is a strong answer when comparing downstream scale and refining operations.

2. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

ONGC is India’s leading upstream oil and gas company. It accounts for about 75% of the country’s domestic crude oil and natural gas production and operates major offshore and onshore assets.

3. Reliance Industries Limited

Reliance Industries is India’s largest private-sector corporation and a major refining and petrochemicals player. Its Jamnagar complex has around 1.4 million barrels per day of crude processing capacity.

4. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)

BPCL is a major public-sector company involved in refining, fuel marketing, LPG, aviation fuel, lubricants and natural gas. Its large retail network gives it a strong nationwide presence.

5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

HPCL operates refineries and a broad fuel distribution network across India. Its business covers petrol, diesel, LPG, lubricants, aviation fuel and other petroleum products.

6. GAIL (India) Limited

GAIL is one of India’s most important natural gas companies. Its operations include gas transmission, marketing, petrochemicals, LPG and LNG, supported by an extensive pipeline network.

7. Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Limited

Cairn is India’s largest private oil and gas exploration and production company. It operates producing assets in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Assam and contributes significantly to domestic crude production.

8. Nayara Energy

Nayara Energy is a major private refining and fuel marketing company. It operates the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat and has developed a substantial retail fuel network across India.

9. Oil India Limited

Oil India is a Maharatna public-sector exploration and production company. It has a strong presence in Northeast India and produces crude oil and natural gas from several domestic assets.

10. Petronet LNG Limited

Petronet LNG is a key part of India’s LNG infrastructure. It operates the Dahej and Kochi terminals, with Dahej’s nameplate capacity now at 22.5 MMTPA.

These companies are commonly included when people search for the top 10 oil and gas companies in India, although the exact ranking changes depending on revenue, production, refining capacity and market presence.

11. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL)

MRPL, a subsidiary of ONGC, operates a major refinery in Mangaluru, Karnataka. It supplies petroleum and petrochemical products to domestic and international markets.

12. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL)

CPCL is part of the IndianOil group and operates refining facilities in Tamil Nadu. It is an important supplier of petroleum products in southern India.

13. Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC)

GSPC has interests in exploration, production and gas-related businesses. It has played a role in the development of Gujarat’s wider natural gas and energy ecosystem.

14. Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Limited

Essar Oil and Gas focuses largely on unconventional natural gas, particularly coal bed methane. It is an important participant in India’s effort to expand domestic gas production.

15. Adani Total Gas Limited

Adani Total Gas is a leading city gas distribution company supplying CNG and piped natural gas. Its network, including joint venture areas, covers 53 geographical areas across 125 districts.

16. Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)

NRL operates a refinery in Assam and is expanding capacity from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA. The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2027 and includes major supporting pipeline infrastructure.

17. Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL)

ISPRL manages India’s strategic crude oil storage facilities. These reserves are designed to strengthen national energy security during major supply disruptions or emergencies.

18. Balmer Lawrie & Co. Limited

Balmer Lawrie is a diversified public-sector enterprise with businesses including lubricants, industrial packaging and logistics. Its lubricant operations give it a specialised place in the petroleum supply chain.

19. Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL)

GSPL operates natural gas transmission infrastructure connecting supply sources with major consumption centres. Its pipeline network supports industrial and city gas demand, particularly in Gujarat.

20. Assam Gas Company Limited

Assam Gas Company transports and distributes natural gas in Northeast India. It supplies gas to industrial and commercial users and supports the region’s energy infrastructure.

Public and Private Oil Companies in India

India’s oil and gas industry combines large government-controlled companies with private-sector businesses. ONGC, IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL and Oil India are major public-sector names, while Reliance, Cairn and Nayara represent significant private participation.

Together, these companies cover exploration, refining, pipelines, LNG, retail fuel, petrochemicals and natural gas distribution.

Future of Oil and Gas Companies in India

The industry is changing as companies balance rising energy demand with the shift toward cleaner fuels. Traditional oil and gas businesses are still investing in exploration, refining and pipeline infrastructure, but many are also expanding into green hydrogen, biofuels, compressed biogas, renewable power and EV charging.

Oil and natural gas will remain important for transport, aviation, manufacturing, petrochemicals and industrial activity. At the same time, the business models of leading energy companies are becoming more diversified.

Conclusion

The leading oil companies in India serve different roles across the energy value chain. IndianOil leads in downstream scale, ONGC dominates domestic upstream production, and Reliance operates a globally significant refining business. GAIL, Petronet LNG, Cairn, Oil India and Adani Total Gas are also important players in gas, LNG, exploration and distribution.

For importers, exporters and B2B buyers, understanding these companies can make it easier to identify suppliers, partners and market opportunities. Exporters Worlds helps businesses connect with buyers and suppliers across industries and discover new opportunities in domestic and international trade.