India`s Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd (ONGC) has sought an exemption from a government request to buy back government-held shares in the company as ONGC needs the funds for its own capital expenditures, Chairman Shashi Shanker said on Wednesday.

This follows local news reports which said the government wants the ONGC to buy back a portion of its 67.45 percent stake in the company to meet its divestment target.