Overview

• The petition by advocate Akshay Malhotra asks the court to mandate ethanol‑free (E0) petrol at all fuel stations with clear ethanol content labels and on‑pump compatibility disclosures.
• It also seeks a nationwide study into mechanical wear, corrosion and fuel‑efficiency impacts on vehicles using blended petrol.
• The plea cites advisories and service‑centre reports to argue that many vehicles built before April 2023, and some newer BS‑VI models, are not designed for E20 and face higher repair costs and reduced mileage.
• Union minister Nitin Gadkari dismisses the allegations as misinformation, saying trials on older cars show no issues and pointing to countries such as Brazil that run higher blends.
• The Oil Ministry says efficiency losses are marginal and states E20 use does not affect the validity of vehicle insurance, as E20 availability expands alongside existing E10 at many pumps.