- Why in news
- On 7 November 2026, the Petroleum Ministry said 893 E20 petrol samples from 27 States and UTs met standards. It rebutted a Karnataka claim that petrol had 26–31% ethanol.
- What it is
- The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme mixes ethanol, made mainly from sugarcane and grain, with petrol. It aims to cut crude imports, support farmers and improve energy security. E20 means petrol with about 20% ethanol, and its quality is set by a Bureau of Indian Standards specification.
- E20 standard
- E20 petrol must conform to BIS specification IS 17021 for ethanol-blended motor gasoline.
- Legal basis of quality control
- The Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Control Order, 2005, is issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and read with the Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2024.
- Sampling procedure
- Six one-litre samples are drawn: two to the dealer, two retained by the oil company or department, two to a specified laboratory.
- Programme history
- The ethanol blending pilot began in 2001; later milestones include the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and the NITI Aayog roadmap for 2025.
Don’t confuse with E20 vs E10: E20 has about 20% ethanol; E10 has about 10%. E10 is used as the certified reference material for correcting gas chromatography results.
Don’t confuse with EBP Programme vs National Policy on Biofuels, 2018: EBP is the blending programme; the 2018 policy is the wider framework covering biofuels.
Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Reduces crude import dependence and saves foreign exchange.
- Supports farmers' income and cuts CO2 emissions.
Problems
- Mileage loss and materials compatibility concerns for some vehicles.
- Disputes between States and OMCs over sampling and testing methods.
Way forward
- Joint sampling and testing under the Control Order using the referee method.
- Transparent, published data on vehicle performance and repair costs.
Put in your answer
Farmer transfers: More than ₹1.66 lakh crore has been transferred to farmers.
Mileage impact: E20-calibrated vehicles may lose about 1–2% mileage, others about 3–6%.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the quality control of ethanol-blended petrol (E20) in India, consider the following statements:
Which one of the following is correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.E20 petrol sold in India must conform to the Bureau of Indian Standards specification IS 17021.
True. IS 17021 is the BIS specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline.
2.The Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Control Order, 2005, is issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
True. The Order is issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
3.Under the prescribed fuel sampling procedure, four one-litre samples are drawn, with two retained by the dealer.
False. Six one-litre samples are drawn: two to the dealer, two retained by the oil company or department, two to a laboratory.
4.The ethanol blending pilot programme in India began in 2001.
True. The pilot began in 2001.
5.The Centre for High Technology, which monitors ethanol blending and fuel quality at OMC outlets, functions under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
True. CHT is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.