India made E20 petrol — a 20% ethanol blend — the sole fuel available at its roughly 90,000 pumps nationwide by April 2025, reaching the target five years ahead of the original 2030 deadline. The Petroleum Ministry says E20 cuts lifecycle carbon emissions by roughly 40% but acknowledges a 3–5% drop in fuel economy.
The transition has sparked contention. With more than 75% of vehicles on Indian roads not E20-compliant, opposition politician Arvind Kejriwal cited manufacturer manuals showing older models rated only for E10. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari challenged critics to prove any vehicle damage from the blend. Maruti Suzuki reported no E20-linked faults after servicing over 15 million older, non-compliant vehicles during fiscal 2025–26.
Private insurer ICICI Lombard briefly warned that E20 use in non-compliant cars could void claims before reversing the stance. Public sector banks have financed nearly Rs 1 lakh crore annually in ethanol production to support the supply chain.