E20 PETROL ROW: GADKARI DISMISSES PUBLIC ANGER AS ‘PAID CAMPAIGN’ AS PURI RULES OUT HIGHER ETHANOL BLENDING

October 27, 2026

NEW DELHI, October 27, 2026: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has dismissed public anger over India’s E20 petrol policy as a “paid campaign”, while Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has ruled out any immediate increase in ethanol blending beyond the existing 20 per cent.

Speaking at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Tuesday, Gadkari said the controversy surrounding E20 petrol had subsided after generating considerable debate on social media several months earlier. He maintained that blending ethanol with petrol could help India reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and save valuable foreign exchange.

Puri echoed Gadkari’s position, accusing critics of spreading misinformation and promoting what he described as a contrived narrative about biofuels. Addressing an energy technology conference in South Goa, he clarified that the government had no immediate intention of raising the ethanol-blending target beyond 20 per cent.

The ministers’ statements come amid continuing public concerns about the compatibility of E20 petrol with older vehicles and reports of engine-related problems. Puri acknowledged that some older vehicles, particularly those manufactured before 2003, had encountered difficulties. He also suggested that problems with the transportation of blended fuel might have contributed to some complaints.

The government has defended the programme on economic grounds. According to Puri, the introduction of E20 petrol helped India save approximately ₹1.6 lakh crore, of which ₹1.4 lakh crore was returned to farmers. He argued that ethanol production has created additional economic opportunities for the agricultural sector, describing farmers as becoming providers of energy alongside their traditional role as food producers.

The controversy has intensified public discussion over the balance between reducing fossil-fuel imports and protecting motorists from potential vehicle-compatibility problems. While the government maintains that ethanol blending offers economic and energy-security benefits, questions surrounding older vehicles and consumer concerns continue to shape the debate.

The developments follow the government's notification of amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, permitting flex-fuel vehicles capable of operating on blends containing up to 100 per cent ethanol. However, the Centre has made clear that it has no immediate plan to raise the current 20 per cent blending level in petrol.