Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore the option of 100 per cent pure petrol, arguing that mandatory ethanol blending affects vehicle performance, consumer costs and water sustainability while limiting consumer choice.
The Petroleum Ministry has defended India's E20 ethanol programme, stating that the transition followed more than two decades of policy development, testing and stakeholder consultations. It rejected claims of a rushed rollout and urged consumers to ignore misinformation about ethanol-blended fuel.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor said a viral video linking an Innova Hycross malfunction to E20 petrol was misleading. The company stated its investigation found fuel contamination, not ethanol-blended fuel, caused the issue, reaffirming the vehicle's compatibility with E20 petrol
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the withdrawal of the E20 fuel programme. He alleged that the policy affects vehicle mileage, questioned its rollout and sought safeguards for vehicle owners
The Indian government has directed oil companies to sell petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum RON of 95 from April 1, 2026. This move aims to reduce oil imports, cut emissions, and boost demand for crops like sugarcane and maize.
Prime Minister also interacted with farmers to gain insight on their firsthand experience, as enablers under the Ethanol Blended Petrol and Compressed Bio-Gas Programmes.
