Overview

• Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said ethanol-blended petrol has no adverse impact on vehicles, claimed Rs 1.4 lakh crore in import savings, and noted no decision has been taken on moving to higher blends.
• Government records obtained via RTI show ethanol blending began with Vajpayee-era pilots and a 5% mandate in 2002, expanded under the UPA, and was accelerated to E20 through notifications culminating in a December 2022 order.
• The Supreme Court recently dismissed a PIL seeking ethanol-free petrol at all outlets and compulsory labelling, with the Attorney General arguing the programme supports farmers and reduces crude imports.
• Local workshops and motorists in Guwahati report mileage drops and maintenance issues, particularly in older vehicles, even as new models are certified to run on E20.
• Blending is done at OMC depots and many pumps do not display ethanol content, while automakers and industry groups caution older or uncalibrated vehicles may need adjustments to handle E20.