No decision yet on petrol blending beyond 20% ethanol, says minister

The government has not yet decided to raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20% level, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday (July 20, 2026), adding that any future increase would follow further scientific study and consultation with industry.

"So far, no decision has been taken by the government for increasing ethanol blending with petrol beyond 20%," Mr. Gopi said in a written reply to a question. Any move higher would come "only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, Oil Marketing Companies and research institutions," he said.

Mr. Gopi said India reached the 20% blending target five years ahead of schedule, with average blending rising from about 1.53% in 2013-14 to 20% in the 2025-26 supply year, after more than two decades of phased rollout.