India Mandates Sale of 20% Ethanol-Blended Petrol Nationwide from April 1

India will require petrol stations across the country to sell petrol blended with up to 20 % ethanol, a move aimed at cutting oil imports, lowering emissions and supporting farmers

New Delhi | 27 February, 2026: The central government has issued a directive that oil companies must sell petrol blended with up to 20 % ethanol, known as E20 petrol, at all fuel pumps in every state and Union Territory from 1 April 2026. The fuel must also meet a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 and comply with Bureau of Indian Standards norms, according to an official notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas dated 17 February.

The mandate seeks to reduce the nation’s reliance on imported crude oil and to lower vehicular emissions by encouraging use of a cleaner burning, domestically produced fuel. Ethanol, made from crops such as sugarcane, maize and grain, offers environmental benefits compared with traditional petrol and can provide additional income for farmers through higher demand for raw materials.

Industry officials say most new vehicles manufactured between 2023 and 2025 are already engineered to run on E20 fuel without major issues. However, older vehicles that were designed for lower ethanol blends may experience a slight dip in mileage or increased wear in certain components over time.

The government has also allowed for limited exemptions in special cases or regions, where oil companies may sell petrol meeting RON specifications even if the full ethanol blend requirement cannot be met temporarily.

This policy represents a significant step in India’s biofuel strategy, building on progress made in previous years with incremental ethanol blending targets.

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