By Lal Singh India’s energy sector is rapidly evolving with a struggle between economic growth, energy security and sustainability. In 2026, the oil and gas industry will continue in India as one of the strongest arms of the Indian economy, fueled by a blend of all-powerful public sector undertakings (PSUs) and aspiring private players. These companies are at the forefront of exploration, refining, marketing and gas infrastructure firms and are also investing heavily in cleaner and future-ready Energy Solutions.
Here is a breakdown of the top 10 leading oil and gas companies in India in 2026 based on scale, influence, infrastructure, and contribution to the country’s energy landscape.
1. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)
Reliance Industries Limited is the largest private sector oil and gas company in India and one of the most influential entities in the global energy sector. With its combined operations in oil refining, petrochemicals, gas and new energy, Reliance is a major player in the private energy domain.
RIL has the world’s largest refining complex at Jamnagar that plays a critical role in India’s fuel exports and energy security. Beyond traditional oil and gas, Reliance is an active investor in green hydrogen, renewable energy, and advanced materials. It has a strong financial base, global partners, and future-focused approach, putting Reliance squarely at the top of India’s energy immobilisation in 2026.
2. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
ONGC is the head of the upstream oil and gas sectors in India as it is the largest government-owned explorer and producer. The company contributes close to 70% of India’s crude oil production, and 84% of natural gas production which makes it important for the domestic supply of energy.
ONGC is working in 26 sedimentary basins in India and operates more than 11,000 km of pipelines. Through ONGC Videsh, it has international projects in 15 countries. Its purchase of a majority interest in HPCL helped the company to increase its downstream presence. Continuous investment in enhanced oil recovery enables ONGC to sustain oil production from mature oilfields despite declining global production.
3. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited is the backbone of the downstream energy network of India. As the largest refiner and the largest fuel marketer in the country, IndianOil has a stake in almost every home and industry in India.
IOCL has 10 refineries with a total installed capacity of more than 80 MMTPA and operates the largest pipeline network in India. With more than 40,000 fuel stations, 63,000 customer touchpoints and 15 crore LPG consumer base, IndianOil is creating uninterrupted access to energy for the entire country. The company is also at the forefront of the clean energy transition in India through ethanol blending, EV charging infrastructure, hydrogen mobility and renewable energy development.
4. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
BPCL is the second largest oil marketing company in India and a Fortune Global 500 enterprise. The company has major refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina together with a capacity of over 35 MMTPA.
BPCL has an extensive retail network of more than 23,500 fuel retail sites and is progressively adding to its LPG, aviation fuel and lubricants distribution. The company actively contributes to India’s clean energy ambitions by having EV charging points at thousands of establishments and is committed to net-zero emissions for its scope 1 and scope 2 by 2040.
5. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
HPCL’s critical role in refining and marketing of fuel and is a subsidiary of ONGC. The company operates refineries both on the western and eastern coasts of the country, in order to maintain balance of supply throughout India.
With more than 22,000 retail outlets, 6,300 LPG distributorships and a fast expanding EV charging network, HPCL is customer-centric in energy delivery. Its investments in bio fuels among others, gas and sustainable R&D provide it with strength in terms of relevance to the Indian evolving energy ecosystem in the long run.
6. Oil India Limited (OIL)
Oil India Limited is India’s second-largest upstream oil and gas PSU, which has a long heritage in exploration and production. Headquartered in Assam, OIL is an important source of energy supply in the North Eastern states of India.
The company operates in onshore and offshore blocks in India, and has international assets in countries including Mozambique, Gabon and the US. With over one hundred years of experience in oil discovery and production, OIL has a combination of experience and strategic diversification into the refining and international exploration space.
7. GAIL (India) Limited
GAIL is a leader in the natural gas industry in India in gas transmission, trading and distribution with an unasserted dominance. The company operates almost 65% of India’s gas pipeline network, which is spread across more than 16,800 km network.
GAIL supplies gas to fertilizers, power plants, city gas distributors as well as industries in different parts of the country. It is also a major part of LNG imports, petrochemicals and city gas distribution. With ambitious net-zero targets and investments in green hydrogen, biogas, and renewable energy, GAIL anchors the shift toward a gas-based economy in India.
8. Cairn Oil & Gas (Vedanta Limited)
Cairn Oil & Gas, a branch of Vedanta Limited, is the leader of Indian private upstream oil and gas production. The company accounts for almost 25% of the domestic crude oil production of India, making them the largest private producer of crude oil in India.
Cairn is operational in more than five states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. With a high focus on advanced exploration technology and high-reward prospects, the company will increase its contribution to 50% of India’s crude production, which will strengthen national energy security.
9. Nayara Energy
Nayara Energy is a major player in the Indian downstream oil industry. The company owns and runs Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, the second-largest single-site refinery in India.
Nayara Energy operates one of the most rapidly expanding networks of private fuel stations in India with more than 6000 retail outlets. The company aims at cost-effective sourcing of crude, product innovativeness, and steering into petrochemicals, which favors the need of India in the future, advancing and increasing its demands and contributions towards the industries.
10. Petronet LNG Limited
The Petronet LNG Limited forms the backbone of the Indian LNG import infrastructure and guarantee of steady supply of natural gas. The company has LNG terminals that are located at Dahej and Kochi which have a total regasification capacity of 22.5 MMTPA.
India relies on gas-based energy transition, with Petronet playing a major role in importing almost 74% of LNG to the country. As a country with significant growth strategies such as new terminals and petrochemical projects, Petronet LNG will enhance the energy sustainability of India and the supply of gas.
Final Thoughts
The 10 largest oil and gas companies in India in 2026 are indicative of an overwhelming combination of the size, business strategies, and innovation. The giants in the public sector keep on winning the national energy demand and the private companies fuel efficiency, technology and global competitiveness.
These companies, combined, empower the economy of India, as well as influence its move toward a cleaner, more responsible energy. These market leaders will continue playing the centre stage in the development of Indian society as the energy systems advance because of the increasing demand.