“The Cabinet has approved shale gas exploration policy for national oil companies, Oil India and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC),” said Indian Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily.

“Soon, the same (policy) will be extended to other companies, including private energy players.”

Cairn India, which operates the oil-rich Rajasthan block, has said it would welcome any such move by the government to extend the shale policy to private sector players.

“Whether