The Central Government has strongly denied reports suggesting that it described India’s E20 ethanol blending programme as an “experiment” before the Supreme Court. The clarification comes after multiple media reports claimed that the government had characterised the policy as an ongoing trial whose results would become clearer next year. The government has now termed such reports “completely false” and said they do not reflect the actual submissions made before the court.
What Sparked the Controversy?
The controversy emerged during a Supreme Court hearing involving a petition filed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) regarding ethanol allocation for the 2025-26 Ethanol Supply Year. Reports quoting court proceedings suggested that the Attorney General had referred to the E20 programme as an ongoing experiment whose long-term effects were still being assessed.
The comments quickly triggered concerns among consumers, automobile manufacturers, and industry stakeholders, particularly as India has aggressively expanded ethanol blending in petrol over the past few years.
Government Issues Strong Clarification
In an official statement, the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Law and Justice categorically rejected the reports. The government stated that at no point during the hearing was the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme or the E20 blending initiative described as an experiment. It further clarified that the submissions before the Supreme Court focused solely on legal issues related to ethanol allocation and ongoing litigation in various High Courts.
According to the government, the Attorney General informed the court about plans to transfer similar ethanol allocation cases pending in different High Courts to the Supreme Court to avoid conflicting judgments and ensure uniform interpretation of the law.
Supreme Court Orders Status Quo
The Supreme Court directed that the existing ethanol allocation arrangements for the current supply year be maintained while the legal issues are examined further. The court also took note of the government’s proposal to file transfer petitions so that related cases can be heard together.
The dispute originated from a Karnataka High Court order directing oil marketing companies to consider a distillery’s request for increased ethanol allocation before finalising supply contracts. BPCL argued that reopening completed allocations could disrupt the national ethanol blending programme.
Why E20 Remains Important
India achieved its target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of schedule. The programme aims to reduce crude oil imports, strengthen energy security, lower emissions, and support domestic agriculture. The government has already set a new target of increasing ethanol blending to 30% by 2030.
By issuing the clarification, the Centre has sought to remove uncertainty around one of its flagship energy initiatives and reaffirm that the E20 programme remains a key component of India’s long-term fuel and sustainability strategy.
Comments are closed.