For citizens opposing the implementation of the ethanol-blending programme, the Centre's reported decision to delay the rollout of E25 petrol has been viewed as the "first victory" in their campaign for fuel compatible with their vehicles. Public concern has been mounting over the nationwide sale of E20 petrol, and the first offline protest against the policy was organised by Team Bharat at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 5.
On Tuesday, Team Bharat organiser Tehseen Poonawalla described the reported postponement of the E25 rollout as an important win for citizens protesting against the ethanol-blending policy. However, he maintained that the larger issue remained unresolved, arguing that the government had neither withdrawn the E20 policy nor addressed concerns over vehicle compatibility, consumer losses and the scientific basis for accelerating ethanol blending.
Several motorists have claimed that E20 petrol has reduced vehicle mileage and increased engine wear and tear. The Centre has dismissed these allegations, while a group of experts defended the ethanol-blending programme a day before the Delhi protest.
Speaking to India Today Digital during Sunday's demonstration, automobile enthusiast and rally driver Ratan Dhillon of Team Bharat said there was evidence linking vehicle damage to E20 petrol.
"Wear and tear is from ethanol—we will prove it in court. The fuel filter and the entire pipeline get choked. I was in Leh last week, and I had to leave my car there," Dhillon claimed, attributing the vehicle's problems to ethanol-blended fuel.
Several reports on Tuesday indicated that the government may be reconsidering the timeline for introducing E25 petrol. According to sources cited by the India Today Group, the Centre is examining a phased transition instead of directly moving to higher ethanol blends. Under the proposed roadmap, E21 petrol could be introduced by 2027, followed by E25 in 2029.
The Indian Express also reported that the government was likely to postpone the shift to E25 petrol, which would contain 75% petrol and 25% ethanol. Earlier in June, The Times of India had reported that the Centre was likely to defer higher ethanol blending until vehicle technology and related infrastructure were adequately prepared. Opposition to the E20 policy had already begun gaining momentum by then.
Describing the reported decision as the outcome of public pressure, Poonawalla told India Today Digital, "This is the first victory for the people of India and Team Bharat. After our collective protest at Jantar Mantar, the government has agreed not to proceed with higher ethanol-blended petrol until the necessary infrastructure is in place."
He added, "However, the government has still not withdrawn the E20 policy. Questions remain about why E20 was introduced before the infrastructure was ready. Why are the government and automobile companies claiming E20 is safe for E10-compatible vehicles when manufacturers have produced dedicated E20-compliant vehicles? We continue to demand that the E20 policy document be made public and that the government announce a solution for pre-2023 vehicles, which account for over 80% of India's vehicle fleet."
CENTRE MAY ADOPT A PHASED E25 ROADMAP
The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme was launched to reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil, support sugarcane farmers, improve energy security and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Recent developments suggest that while the government remains committed to the programme, it may be taking public concerns into consideration before moving to higher ethanol blends.
"The transition towards higher ethanol blending will happen in a calibrated and phased manner, allowing the automobile industry sufficient time to prepare engines, supply chains and supporting infrastructure," a source told Business Today.
According to The Indian Express, although no official launch date has been announced for E25, two recent government decisions had fuelled speculation that higher ethanol blends were imminent. These included exempting petrol blended with 22% to 30% ethanol from central excise duty and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notifying fuel specifications for such blends.
The phased approach is intended to provide automobile manufacturers, component suppliers and fuel distributors with adequate time to adapt before higher ethanol blends are introduced across the country.
Protesters have repeatedly clarified that they are not opposed to ethanol-blended fuel itself, but to the manner in which the policy has been implemented. Vehicles manufactured before April 2023 were designed to be E10-compatible, meaning they were certified to run on fuel containing up to 10% ethanol. According to a 2024 report by Context Journalism, more than 80% of vehicles in India were not E20 compliant.
Supporters of a phased rollout believe it would help address these compatibility concerns.
STUDIES RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT E20 COMPATIBILITY
Concerns surrounding the E20 policy have also been reinforced by reports of studies commissioned by the government.
On May 19, The Times of India reported that during an inter-ministerial meeting, the Bureau of Indian Standards informed officials that increasing ethanol content beyond E20 by one percentage point would not pose major challenges.
However, because of the larger jump to E25, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) was asked to conduct fresh studies on both E10- and E20-compatible vehicles before any further decision.
According to the ARAI study, the use of E20 fuel in E10-compatible vehicles resulted in deterioration of rubber fuel system components, including hoses, seals, gaskets and O-rings. Despite these findings, the study supported the implementation of the E20 programme.
Even before details of these studies became widely known, many vehicle owners had begun reporting issues they believed were linked to E20 petrol. During the protest led by Poonawalla, India Today Digital also interacted with several BJP supporters who questioned the ethanol-blending policy.
PROTESTERS SEEK GREATER TRANSPARENCY
Owners of older vehicles have reported reduced fuel efficiency, rough engine performance and concerns about long-term mechanical damage after using E20 petrol.
Poonawalla said the reported delay in introducing higher ethanol blends does not resolve the fundamental concerns raised by protesters.
"We still want the E20 policy document to be made public. The government must explain why E20 was introduced before the supporting infrastructure was ready. It must also announce a solution for pre-2023 vehicles, which make up over 80% of India's vehicle population," he said.
He also questioned the government's repeated assertion that E20 petrol is fully compatible with E10-certified vehicles, asking why automobile manufacturers have begun producing dedicated E20-compliant models if existing E10 vehicles can safely use the fuel without long-term consequences.
For those opposing the policy, the reported decision to slow the rollout of higher ethanol blends represents an important but incomplete victory. While they welcome a more gradual approach to E25, they continue to demand greater transparency, the release of scientific studies and the option to use fuel that is compatible with their vehicles.
