Overview

• Advocate Akshay Malhotra’s petition asks the court to mandate ethanol‑free (E0) petrol nationwide, require clear pump labelling, and order a study on mechanical effects.
• The plea argues many vehicles made before April 2023—and some newer BS‑VI models—are not designed for E20, alleging corrosion, lower mileage, higher repair costs and rejected insurance claims.
• The Petroleum Ministry has called viral claims of drastic efficiency loss and invalid insurance “factually incorrect,” and Gadkari says trials on older cars show no engine damage.
• India has fast‑tracked its Ethanol Blending Programme, achieving the 20% target early and aiming for full E20 availability by 2025, though many pumps still dispense E10 as rollout continues.
• Petitioners point to US and EU practices where ethanol‑free options and clear ethanol content labels coexist, while separate commentary flags potential food‑crop diversion risks from scaling ethanol supply.