The Union government informed Parliament on Thursday, 23 July that no decision has been taken to raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20 per cent limit. Any future move to increase the blending level will be preceded by rigorous scientific and technical studies and broad-based consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, and research institutions.

What the Government Said

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi clarified the government's position in a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha. He noted that E85 fuel — a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol — has been introduced exclusively for Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) that are specifically designed and certified for such fuel. This introduction, he stressed, does not amount to raising the nationwide base ethanol blending level.

Gopi also pointed out that ethanol has been used as a transport fuel globally for over a century, with countries such as Brazil running higher ethanol blends for decades, lending credibility to India's phased approach.

Safety and Performance Record of E20

The government's confidence in the current E20 standard rests on both laboratory findings and large-scale real-world data. Scientific studies and field validation by an Inter-Ministerial Committee under NITI Aayog, along with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), confirmed that E20 does not cause abnormal wear, corrosion, or compatibility issues.

According to Minister Gopi, E15+ blended petrol has been in widespread use for more than three-and-a-half years, and E19–E20 fuel for more than two-and-a-half years. Over 20 crore two-wheelers and more than 3 crore petrol cars have run on these blends with no verified evidence of widespread engine failure attributable to ethanol blending.

One of India's largest passenger vehicle manufacturers serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during FY 2025–26 — including nearly 1.5 crore older, non-E20-certified vehicles — without recording any E20-related engine damage. A leading two-wheeler manufacturer similarly reported no higher incidence of component damage in vehicles operating on E20 compared with earlier fuel blends, based on extensive service records.

Mileage Impact and Engine Benefits

On the question of fuel efficiency, government agencies and automobile manufacturers indicate that any reduction in fuel economy in certain E10-designed vehicles is generally limited to about 3–5 per cent. In return, E20 offers a higher-octane rating, superior anti-knock characteristics, cleaner combustion, and smoother engine performance. According to SIAM and ARAI, E20 also improves acceleration and ride quality while reducing carbon emissions. Ethanol's higher heat of vaporisation further improves combustion efficiency in modern high-compression engines.

National Benefits of the EBP Programme

The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, implemented through a phased and consultative process, has delivered significant macroeconomic and environmental gains. As Minister Gopi stated, the programme has saved more than ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substituted nearly 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, cut approximately 952 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and transferred more than ₹1.66 lakh crore directly to farmers.

With the E20 milestone now embedded in daily fuel supply, the government's next step — if any — on higher blends will be determined by evidence, not timelines.