Which of the following is the oldest oil producing State of India ?

The correct answer is Assam Key Points Assam is the pioneer of the oil industry in India and holds the distinction of being the oldest oil-producing state in the country. The history of oil in India began in the late 19th century. The first oil discovery was made at Makum in 1867 , but the first commercially viable oil well was drilled in Digboi in 1889 . The Digboi Refinery , commissioned in 1901 , is the oldest operating oil refinery in the world and the first of its kind in Asia. Gujarat is another major oil-producing state, but its production began much later, following the discovery of oil in Ankleshwar in 1958 . Rajasthan has emerged as a significant oil producer in recent decades, particularly after the discovery of the Mangala field in the Barmer basin in 2004 . Nagaland possesses oil reserves, but its production history is not as ancient or extensive as that of Assam. Additional Information The major oil fields in Assam include Digboi , Naharkatiya , and Moran-Hugrijan . These fields are primarily managed by Oil India Limited (OIL) and ONGC . Oil India Limited (OIL) was incorporated in 1959 as a partnership between the Government of India and the Burmah Oil Company to develop the fields in Assam. While Assam is the oldest producer, the Mumbai High (offshore field in the Arabian Sea), discovered in 1974 , became one of India's largest oil-producing areas. India relies heavily on imports for its crude oil requirements, making the domestic production from states like Assam, Gujarat, and Rajasthan vital for national energy security. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the apex government body responsible for the exploration, production, and refining of petroleum products in India.