India has completed its nationwide shift to E20 petrol, which means the regular petrol sold at pumps now contains 20% ethanol. The transition was achieved in April 2025, much ahead of the earlier 2030 target. The government is now preparing for the next phase of ethanol blending. It has exempted petrol containing 22-30% ethanol from central excise duty, placing it on a similar tax footing as E20. Separately, it has proposed changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to formally recognise E85 and E100 fuels.
For consumers, the key question is how E20 affects the engine life and mileage of their vehicles and whether ethanol blending will eventually go beyond 20%.
