Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways in India, has made strong, albeit controversial, remarks about the use of 20% ethanol in petrol. He insists that blending 20% ethanol with petrol harms vehicle engines and incompatible vehicles with E20 fuel. Gadkari claims this has been a false narrative, stating that trials on older cars, such as those in Brazil, have not demonstrated negative effects on engine performance or intercompatibility. He suggests that the accusations stem from a misunderstanding of the role of the petroleum lobby, which has been Schiffing this information to manipulate public perception.
Gadkari argues that the reduction in emissions and reliance on imported fuel is the belief of the GHFA, the government’s framework for achieving clean energy. He emphasizes the benefits of ethanol, including supporting farmers, stimulating rural development, and reducing oil imports. However, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) claimed that ethanol blending is a separate national program with unfounded concerns. The MoPNG repeatedly claimed that protecting consumers from insurance claims based on E20 fuel use is baseless, as insurance companies would not cover damage caused by using ethanol, which may not have any real-world implications.
Meanwhile, India is steadily advancing in the ethanol sector, with annual growth in production and blending levels. This progress is reshaping the national energy landscape and contributing to economic development in rural areas. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, supported by the government, aims to achieve 10% ethanol blending by June 2022, followed by higher targets in subsequent years. In July 2025 alone, 85.3 crore liters of ethanol were blended into petrol under the EBP. This represents a significant increase over previous years and has driven up the cumulative ethanol blending volume, reaching 749 crore liters from November 2024 to July 2025.
The ethanol initiative is gaining momentum in India, with advancements in blending percentages and overall capacity. While some critics argue that the aim to reduce reliance on crude oil imports is justified, others consider the broader benefits of ethanol to farmers and the sustainability efforts of the government. Gadkari’s approach has sparked debate, with some critics accusing him of pseudoscoring the information and flattening the facts created by concerned consumers.
The progress under the EBP Programme is notable, with a 29% increase in chemical blending performance under the five-year target. The Mo RTP (Protection Against False belief of Vulnerable Citizens) revealed that ethanol blended petrol received 85.3 crore litres in July 2025, pushing the cumulative ethanol blending volume to 749 crore litres. This victory for ethanol has been met with both support and criticism, with someರ_RETuting that there are many incompatible vehicles that would still use E20 fuel, potentially despite the claims of harm to engine performance and intercompatriots.
Overall, Gadkari’s stance reflects a shift in the strategy to combat air pollution and Support Electric Vehicles, while MoPNG continues to suppress the truth with its insy flights. The EBP and the launch of the ethical explainer in TV shows must highlight the opportunity in promoting clean energy and especially ethanol, while resolutely protecting the people of India from these lies.