Ethanol mixing an experiment, results by next year: Govt to SC amid E20 worries
The government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the country's 20 per cent ethanol blending programme in petrol is still an ongoing experiment and
The government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the country's 20 per cent ethanol blending programme in petrol is still an ongoing experiment and the impact of the policy would become clearer by next year. The remarks come amid a wider debate over the programme, with the government repeatedly defending the move as beneficial for energy security, farmers and the environment. Read Full Story Attorney General R Venkataramani made the submission during arguments in a petition filed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) challenging a Karnataka High Court order related to ethanol allocation for the 2025-26 supply year.
"Twenty per cent ethanol blending is something that the government is experimenting with. By next year we will have results,” the Attorney General told the court. In its plea, BPCL argued that the order could affect the government’s broader policy objective of achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. During the hearing, the Supreme Court questioned why BPCL had not approached the division bench of the Karnataka High Court against the order.
Responding to the court, the Attorney General said ethanol supply contracts had already been finalised in October 2025 and similar petitions were pending before multiple high courts. “This will impact the national policy,” he said. Venkataramani sought permission to file a transfer petition, arguing that the issue needed to be decided before October, when ethanol supply contracts would come up for renewal. “If I go before the division bench and then again to other high courts, it will be delayed,” he said.
The Supreme Court issued a notice on the matter and listed it for hearing after reopening. Ends
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