1 Sept 2025
The petitioner cited a 2021 NITI Aayog report that raised concerns about older vehicles being non-compliant with E20.
Advocate Akshay Malhotra had filed a petition with the Supreme Court citing concerns about ethanol-based petrol E20. He sought an option of ethanol-free petrol for vehicles manufactured before April 2023. Vehicles made after April 2023 are compliant with E20 petrol.
The matter was presented before the bench headed by the Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, who dismissed the petition. Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani called the petitioner a ‘name lender’ and pointed out the huge lobby behind the petition.
He highlighted how the E20 fuel policy benefits sugarcane farmers and helps save foreign exchange.
E20 petrol policy sparked concerns about the expected 6% reduction in fuel efficiency. The Road Transport and Petroleum Ministries have dismissed the rumours.
The Petroleum Ministry referred to a NITI Aayog study on Ethanol, citing that E20 promises better acceleration and ride quality.
Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES, on Amazon Kindle.