NEW DELHI: The debate over E20 petrol has taken a fresh turn after chief economic adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran argued that lower-ethanol fuel such as E10 should be made available for older vehicles, even as government officials maintain that there is currently no plan to bring E10 back to fuel stations.Nageswaran’s position has added weight to demands from vehicle owners and political leaders who have been seeking a lower-ethanol option since E20 became the only petrol variant available at fuel pumps from April 2026.
What did the CEA say
In an opinion piece, Nageswaran and department of economic affairs consultant Akash Poojari argued that older vehicles need protection while the industry works on making them compatible with higher ethanol blends.The article acknowledged that there is no strong evidence of widespread engine damage from E20, but pointed to a specific concern involving older vehicles. India has an estimated 75 to 80 million older two-wheelers, some of which have rubber seals that were not designed to handle higher ethanol content.“India has roughly 75 to 80 million older two-wheelers … older rubber seals that are not rated for ethanol are a separate problem … retrofitting those seals… that way will take years,” the opinion piece said.The authors said the government should “protect the existing fleet while the retrofit programme catches up,”.The argument has effectively revived the question of whether motorists with older vehicles should have the option of buying E10, which contains 10% ethanol, alongside E20, which contains 20% ethanol.
Govt says no E10 plan for now
Despite the CEA’s suggestion, officials dealing with the ethanol policy said there is currently no discussion within the government to reintroduce E10 at fuel stations.Officials said bringing back a separate lower-blend petrol would require additional infrastructure and could create complications over pricing, storage and distribution. They also pointed to the large ecosystem that has developed around the government’s 20% ethanol blending programme.One official said the government had already stated last month that there was no proposal to bring back lower-ethanol variants such as E0 or E10.Another official argued that offering E10 could be interpreted as an admission that E20 is unsuitable for older vehicles, something the government does not accept.“Also, allowing the sale of E10 would mean govt is accepting E20 petrol is not good for older vehicles which is not the case. Studies have shown E20 does not cause any mechanical issues,” said another official.This means that, despite the CEA’s call for a lower-blend option, there is no government decision at present to make E10 available again.
Why E20 has become controversial
E20 is petrol containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. The government has promoted higher ethanol blending as a way to reduce crude oil imports, save foreign exchange and improve India’s energy security. India also achieved its 20% blending target ahead of the original 2030 deadline.However, the nationwide shift has generated concerns among some vehicle owners, particularly those with older vehicles. The most common complaint has been lower fuel efficiency, while some motorists have also raised concerns about fuel lines, seals and other components.The issue gained further attention after senior executives from major automobile companies privately raised concerns about contamination in E20 fuel. The concerns were subsequently followed by a wider public debate over the compatibility of older vehicles with the fuel.At the same time, the government and automobile industry have maintained that available testing does not show widespread mechanical damage from E20. Automakers have also said that older vehicles can operate on E20, although fuel efficiency can be affected.
Political row intensifies
The latest debate has also given the opposition fresh ammunition, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday questioning the government’s position on E20 after reports of Nageswaran’s recommendation emerged.In a post on X, Yadav shared a picture citing the CEA’s reported remarks and asked, “Who is right: the government or the adviser?”“E20 petrol is damaging vehicles. The sale of E10 petrol should start again for old two-wheelers,” read the picture shared by Yadav.Yadav said motorists who believe their vehicles have developed problems after using E20 are being left to seek help, while the government continues to maintain that there is no issue with the fuel.He also questioned why the government was not directly seeking feedback from vehicle owners who have reported problems.Calling E20 a “double-edged sword”, Yadav said it was creating a “double burden” for consumers through petrol costs and higher vehicle maintenance expenses.Earlier, Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi said Congress will soon take up the issue of the Centre’s E20 ethanol-blended fuel programme.In a social media post on X, Rahul shared a video and accused the government of “stealing directly out of people’s pockets”.“This E20 issue is a very serious matter. Usually, we say, ‘Daal mein kuch kaala hai.’ But here, the whole daal is black,” the Congress leader said.“Brothers and sisters, this is a matter of priorities. In any campaign, we have to decide the order in which issues are taken up. The problem right now is that there is so much corruption that there is a long list of issues we have to prioritise. But don’t worry. We will take up the E20 issue in a big way because it is damaging people’s cars and scooters and their lives and is, quite literally, stealing money directly out of their pockets,” he added.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
The bigger policy question
The immediate question is not whether the government has decided to bring E10 back. It has not. The issue is whether it will eventually consider giving owners of older vehicles a choice between different ethanol blends.The CEA’s intervention has brought that question back into focus at a time when E20 is already the standard petrol available across the country. The government, however, continues to defend the broader ethanol programme on the grounds of lower crude oil dependence, reduced emissions and greater energy security.For now, the positions remain different. Nageswaran’s opinion has called for protection of the existing older vehicle fleet, while officials say reintroducing E10 would be difficult and is not under consideration at present.
