The 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) initiative in Bharat is a significant step for nature and human development. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (August 2025) has addressed concerns stemming from the claim of ‘huge mileage loss’ due to E20. The clarification by the Ministry takes us out of the concern created by the theory of “huge mileage loss” due to E20. I have been working in the field of ethanol, bio-CNG and renewable energy for a long time. So I think it is time to clear the picture of the kind of perception being created about E20 in the country.
Bharat’s Positive Contribution
This is a national programme of the Government of India that aims to reduce carbon emissions and increase the income of farmers. Research done by IOCL, ARAI, SIAM and NITI Aayog confirms that E20 reduces tailpipe carbon emissions by about 30 per cent compared to E10. A study by Niti Aayog found that sugarcane-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent and corn-based ethanol by 50 per cent. In the last 11 years, public sector oil companies have saved foreign exchange worth Rs 1.44 lakh crore and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 736 lakh tonnes by blending ethanol in petrol, which is equivalent to planting 30 crore trees. It has replaced 245 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil—demonstrating Bharat’s impactful environmental contribution.
The octane number of E20 (108.5) is higher than that of petrol (84.4), which improves the acceleration of vehicles. It reduces engine knocking and enhances power output by improving combustion efficiency. Earlier, the RON (Research Octane Number) of petrol sold in Bharat was 88, which has now increased to 91 under BS-VI standards. By adding E20, it has increased to 95, which has improved the performance of vehicles.
Spread of Misinformation
It has been observed that for some time now, every effort is being made to spread confusion about E20. The argument presented was that due to this, the mileage of vehicles has decreased. The Government of India has come forward to clear the confusion created by presenting such theories. The Petroleum Ministry has refuted the claim of “drastic” mileage reduction and clarified that the mileage of the vehicle also depends on driving habits, maintenance, tire pressure, alignment and use of AC. The Ministry said that many manufacturers have been making E20-compatible vehicles since 2009, in which there is no significant impact on mileage. The Ministry wants to remove the fears of vehicle owners regarding mileage. They have been asked to go to the authorised service centers without hesitation, if they feel that their vehicle needs tuning or replacement of parts for E20, then the entire network of service centers is ready to help.
Propaganda Ecosystem Activated
The ethanol programme has become a powerful medium of rural transformation. With 20 per cent blending this year, it is expected that farmers will be paid Rs 40,000 crore and foreign exchange of Rs 43,000 crore will be saved. Farmers are now not only food providers, but also energy contributors. This scheme strengthens the economic capacity and dignity of the farmer.
Speeding up ethanol blending
The National Policy on Biofuels 2018, as amended in 2022, inter-alia advanced the target of 20 per cent blending of Ethanol in petrol from 2030 to Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. The Government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell ethanol blended with petrol. During the ongoing ESY 2024–25, OMCs have achieved an average ethanol blending of 19.05 per cent as on 31.07.2025. In the month of July 2025, Ethanol blending of 19.93 per cent has been achieved. In order to ensure availability of feedstock for ethanol production to achieve 20 per cent Ethanol blending target by the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, the Government have taken several steps which inter-alia includes:
- Expansion of feedstock for Ethanol production as per the National Policy on Biofuels, as amended in 2022.
- Development of Maize Cluster around ethanol plants by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) and a Project by ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) titled “Enhancement of maize production in catchment areas of ethanol industries” to increase the production of maize in catchment area of grain-based distilleries.
- Approval by Government for allocation of 52 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) of surplus Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice for ethanol production, each for the ESY 2024-25 (from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025) and ESY 2025-26 up to 30.06.2026.
- Diversion of 40 LMT of sugar for ethanol production allowed for the ESY 2024-25.
Some social media warriors also tried to propagate that insurance companies will not bear the cost of damage to vehicles in which E20 will be used. The reality is that the tweet of an insurance company was distorted and presented by the machinery of misinformation in such a way that it made people believe that insurance companies are washing their hands off vehicles running on E20 fuel. In reality, insurance coverage will not be affected for vehicles using E20 fuel. There is a system active in the country which is bent on proving E20 fuel wrong in every way. A new narrative was pushed by this system suggesting that E20 should be cheaper simply because ethanol is perceived as low-cost. People need to know that when the NITI Aayog report was prepared in 2020-21, ethanol was cheaper. Now its purchase price is more than petrol, which is Rs 71.32 per litre on average, including transport and GST. Corn-based ethanol is Rs 71.86 per litre.
Ethanol prices
Sugarcane based:n Corn based:
• 2021-22: 46.66/litre • 2021-22: 52.92/litre
• 2024-25: 57.97/litre • 2024-25: 71.86/litre
The E20 roadmap was made in 2021. This initiative is part of the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme of the Government of India. It aims to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and make vehicle emissions clean. Earlier, the average ethanol blend was 12.06 per cent, which increased to 14.6 per cent. In February 2025, it reached 19.6 per cent and after a short time, the target of 20 per cent has also been crossed. We have to understand very deeply that the ethanol-petrol blend is a bridge from dependence on fossil fuels to farmer-produced fuel.
We have to understand the attempt to create obstacles in Bharat’s progress. To live up to Bharat’s commitment to environmental protection, which has been expressed before the world, we will have to adopt all those options that are agriculturally produced, climate-friendly and beneficial for the nation. Bharat has embraced innovation for centuries, and the Naya Bharat will continue this legacy—pushing boundaries and reaching new heights.
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