New Delhi, April 23, 2026: India has taken a landmark step toward greener skies as the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a formal notification on April 17, 2026, amending the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 to legally enable the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)-blended ATF for aircraft operations. The move is aimed squarely at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international flights and aligning India with a fast-accelerating global clean aviation transition.

What the Government Notified

The amendment to the ATF Control Order expands the definition of Aviation Turbine Fuel beyond its earlier scope, which was limited exclusively to petroleum-based fuel meeting Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications. The revised definition now includes SAF co-processed alongside ATF as per IS 1571 in petroleum refineries, and SAF conforming to IS 17081 when blended with ATF meeting IS 1571.

According to the ministry statement, this is an administrative enabling measure — not a mandate yet — but it lays the legal groundwork to operationalise India's already-announced indicative SAF blending targets: 1% in 2027, 2% in 2028, and 5% by 2030 for international flights.

What Is SAF and Why Does It Matter

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a renewable fuel derived from alternative feedstocks including crops, biogenic residues, and waste materials. It consists of aviation-grade hydrocarbons that are chemically similar to conventional ATF and are fully compatible with existing aircraft engines — meaning airlines need not modify their fleets.

SAF undergoes a rigorous testing process recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and certified under ASTM International standards before being cleared for aviation use. Crucially, SAF offers significant lifecycle reductions in GHG emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, making it a cornerstone of global aviation decarbonisation strategies.

For SAF to qualify as CORSIA-Eligible Fuel (CEF) — meaning it can be used to offset emissions under ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) — it must meet both BIS quality specifications and CORSIA sustainability criteria. The mandatory phase of CORSIA begins in 2027, requiring international flights to offset emissions above a set baseline, making this regulatory amendment time-critical for Indian carriers.

India's SAF Targets in a Global Context

India's blending roadmap is modest compared to peers, but deliberate. The European Union has mandated 2% SAF in 2025, 6% in 2030, and up to 70% by 2050. The United Kingdom requires 2% in 2025, 10% in 2030, and 22% by 2040. Japan has set a 10% SAF mandate by 2030, while Singapore will require 1% SAF from 2026, rising to 3–5% by 2030. The United States is driving SAF adoption through production tax incentives rather than blending mandates.

India's phased targets reflect the reality that domestic SAF production infrastructure is still nascent. However, by formally bringing SAF under the ATF Control Order, the government ensures that Indian oil refineries, airlines, and fuel suppliers can now legally participate in the global SAF supply chain — a prerequisite for Indian carriers operating international routes under CORSIA compliance obligations.

Impact on Airlines, Refineries, and Passengers

For Indian carriers like Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara operating international routes, this notification removes a key regulatory barrier. Without this amendment, SAF-blended fuel would have had no legal standing under Indian fuel marketing law, potentially exposing airlines to compliance risks under CORSIA from 2027 onwards.

For Indian petroleum refineries, the amendment opens a new product category — SAF co-processing — that aligns with the global refining industry's pivot toward low-carbon fuels. This could attract investment in SAF production capacity within India, supporting the government's broader goal of positioning the country as a key player in the global clean energy ecosystem.

In the near term, passengers are unlikely to see direct cost impacts, as the 1% blending target for 2027 is relatively small. However, as mandates scale toward 5% by 2030, and given that SAF currently costs 2–5 times more than conventional ATF, airlines may factor this into ticket pricing on international routes over the medium term.

Strategic Significance for India's Green Energy Ambitions

This notification is part of a wider pattern of India's energy transition policy. It follows the government's broader commitments under the Paris Agreement and India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which target net-zero emissions by 2070. The aviation sector, responsible for roughly 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions, is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise — making SAF adoption both urgent and strategically important.

Notably, India's move also signals its intent to remain a competitive hub for international aviation. As CORSIA compliance becomes mandatory, airlines operating out of airports without SAF-compliant fuel frameworks risk operational and reputational disadvantages. This amendment ensures Indian airports and fuel infrastructure are not left behind in the global green aviation transition.

With the CORSIA mandatory phase starting in 2027 and India's own blending targets kicking in the same year, the coming 18 months will be critical for refineries, airlines, and regulators to build the operational, certification, and supply chain frameworks needed to make SAF a commercial reality on Indian tarmacs.