Ethanol blending has replaced over 31 million metric tonnes of crude since 2014-15, saving Rs 1.9 trillion in foreign exchange and shrinking a strategic vulnerability while building a new rural income stream. At a time when energy security is a matter of national urgency, ethanol has become India’s most exportable idea.
Nilanjan Banik
August 12, 2026 at 11:11 AM IST
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India’s E20 debate is not about rejecting ethanol but about mileage loss, engine compatibility, corrosion risks and consumer choice at the pump.
Shubhranshu
July 7, 2026 at 5:40 AM IST
Our cars are running on E20, and reports of lower mileage and damage to vehicle engines are now surfacing. Car owners are often unaware they are getting blended petrol because no one has told them; nor is there any formal intimation available at petrol stations.
G. Chandrashekhar
July 6, 2026 at 8:20 AM IST
Rising oil prices, ethanol demand and tightening sugar balances suggest India’s latest export ban may reflect fuel-security concerns as much as food inflation worries.
May 15, 2026 at 9:58 AM IST
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