AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, 11 July 2026, visited a petrol pump and service station in Delhi to assess ground-level complaints about the government's E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme, declaring that the central government was 'speaking white lies' about the fuel's impact on vehicles.

What Kejriwal said

Posting on X with four images from his field visit, Kejriwal wrote: 'aaj maine Delhi ke ek petrol pump aur service station par jakar zamini haqeeqat jani' ('Today I went to a petrol pump and service station in Delhi to learn the ground reality'). He alleged that E20 fuel is causing genuine problems in vehicles and that ordinary people are 'very distressed' by ethanol blending. He added that 'almost all people' have experienced a drop in mileage and that 'many vehicles' have reported mechanical faults.

The former Chief Minister did not name the specific petrol pump or cite quantified data, but framed the visit as direct citizen outreach against what he called official misinformation about the blended fuel's performance.

Context: India's ethanol blending push

India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was launched in 2003 and was significantly accelerated in 2021, with the central government advancing the deadline to achieve a 20 per cent ethanol blend target to 2025. The programme is designed to reduce India's dependence on crude oil imports, provide an additional revenue stream for sugarcane farmers, and lower vehicular carbon emissions.

Oil marketing companies were mandated to progressively increase ethanol content in petrol sold at pumps across the country. As blending levels climbed from E5 and E10 toward E20, concerns about engine compatibility and fuel efficiency began surfacing among vehicle owners, particularly those with older or carburettor-based engines not optimised for higher ethanol concentrations.

Policy backdrop and compatibility concerns

Automobile manufacturers have broadly supported E20 compatibility norms for new vehicles, with industry bodies and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issuing guidelines on engine tuning and material compatibility. However, the existing fleet — comprising millions of older two-wheelers and four-wheelers — was not designed for fuel with a high ethanol content.

Ethanol has a lower energy density than petrol, which means vehicles running on higher ethanol blends can experience reduced kilometres per litre under real-world conditions. Engine seals, fuel lines, and carburettors in older vehicles may also be susceptible to degradation. These technical concerns have been raised periodically by mechanics and consumer groups since blending targets were raised.

Stakeholders and impact

The most directly affected group is everyday vehicle owners — particularly middle- and lower-income commuters who depend on two-wheelers and small cars and for whom even a modest drop in mileage translates into a meaningful increase in monthly transport costs. Service station operators and mechanics are also at the frontline, fielding complaints about engine performance and fuel system issues.

Sugarcane farmers and ethanol producers, on the other hand, have benefited from the blending programme through guaranteed procurement and better prices. The Government of India has maintained that E20 is safe for compatible vehicles and that the programme's long-term benefits — lower import bills and reduced emissions — outweigh transitional concerns.

What's next

Kejriwal's field visit and public challenge to the government's narrative is likely to intensify political scrutiny of the E20 rollout, especially as opposition parties seek accountability on consumer-facing policies. Statements from automobile industry bodies on fleet-wide compatibility and any regulatory review of blending targets will be closely watched. A formal parliamentary or regulatory audit of consumer complaints related to E20 could be the next pressure point in this debate.