The Cairn-Vedanta deal is now hinging on ONGC’s approval. Though the Petroleum Ministry has approved the deal but until the no-objection from partner ONGC, this acquisition is not going to happen. This has been informed by one of the officials of ONGC. The mining group Vedanta Resources' acquisition of Cairn India has already received the approval of the government and the related authorities.

The $9.6 billion deal now desperately needs ONGC’s NOC so that Vedanta can buy a 51 per cent stake from UK's Cairn Energy. In the month of January this year, the ministry has watered down the 11 preconditions for Vedanta to acquire the UK firm. This has been informed by officials who had direct knowledge of the matter.

They have informed that now Cairn India will have to get hold of the no objection certificate (NOC) from its Indian partner, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC).

After that only, it can go for the stake sale to Vedanta. The State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) holds a stake in eight properties of Cairn India in India. Cairn India holds ten properties in the country.