India's E20 ethanol blending programme is a significant stride toward cleaner energy, energy security, and sustainable development — and is firmly aligned with global climate commitments, according to Sanjay Kumar Kar, Professor of Management and former Head of the Department of Management Studies and former Dean of Faculty Affairs at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT). Kar shared his assessment on Thursday, 30 July, as debate around ethanol-blended fuel continues to grow in public discourse.

A Policy Built on Consultation, Not Haste

Kar emphasised that India's biofuel policy was not introduced abruptly but developed through a structured, multi-stakeholder consultative process. He pointed to the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and its subsequent 2022 amendments as the legislative backbone that enabled what he called 'an excellent and extraordinary achievement.'

'The ethanol blending programme is the way forward,' Kar said, crediting sustained government commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for driving the initiative forward. He noted that achieving the 20% blending target has been a gradual process, underpinned by scientific progress and consistent policy incentives over the years.

Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals

Kar drew a direct line between India's programme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which focuses on affordable and clean energy. 'If you look at the UN's clean energy and clean fuel development initiatives under SDG 7, this programme is well aligned with that goal,' he said.

This alignment positions India's ethanol push not merely as a domestic energy policy but as part of a broader global effort to reduce fossil fuel dependence and cut carbon emissions. Notably, India is among the few large emerging economies to have set — and progressively met — phased ethanol blending targets at scale.

Addressing Misinformation Around Ethanol-Blended Fuel

Kar also addressed concerns and what he described as misinformation circulating about ethanol-blended petrol. He argued that public understanding of the science and the stakeholder benefits remains inadequate.

'What is very important from the point of view of the community is that we need to understand the science behind it and the benefits for the stakeholders. When you look at the benefits for stakeholders like farmers, vehicle owners, and the climate- and environment-related benefits, which extend much beyond what we see right now — from that point of view, the general public and vehicle owners need to understand that it is a larger goal compared to our personal goals,' Kar said.

Who Benefits and What's at Stake

The E20 programme has multiple beneficiary groups. Farmers gain a new revenue stream through sugarcane and grain-based ethanol supply. Vehicle owners are promised a cleaner-burning fuel, though concerns about mileage and engine compatibility have circulated — concerns that Kar attributed to a gap in public scientific literacy rather than technical reality.

From an energy security standpoint, higher ethanol blending reduces India's dependence on crude oil imports, with direct implications for the country's current account deficit and foreign exchange outflows. As global oil prices remain volatile, the strategic value of domestic ethanol production continues to rise.

The Road Ahead

With the E20 target now within reach following years of phased implementation, attention is turning to the next stage — infrastructure readiness, supply chain scaling, and public communication. Experts like Kar argue that the programme's long-term success will depend as much on awareness and trust-building as on policy and production capacity.