Overview

• The Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran on September 1 dismissed a PIL against the nationwide 20% ethanol‑blended petrol policy.
• The court asked authorities to ensure clear disclosure of ethanol content at pumps and to inform motorists about vehicle compatibility at the time of dispensing.
• The petitioner had sought mandatory availability of ethanol‑free fuel, prominent pump labelling, and a nationwide study on efficiency loss and mechanical wear in non‑compliant vehicles.
• The Centre, backed by the attorney general, defended the programme as supporting sugarcane farmers and conserving foreign exchange, while questioning the petitioner’s bona fides.
• Testing bodies and automakers said no vehicle breakdowns have been linked to E20 and typical mileage loss is about 2–4%, with manufacturers indicating warranties would be honoured, even as concerns persist for pre‑April 2023 models and calls grow for public release of test data.