Ethanol Blending Programme Mandates 20% Ethanol-Blended Petrol with Minimum RON 95 from April 2026

Key facts

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has mandated the sale of petrol with up to 20 per cent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 across all states and Union Territories from April 1, 2026.
• The mandate requires oil companies to sell ethanol-blended motor spirit as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications.
• The central government may allow exceptions to this mandate for specific regions, limited timeframes, or special situations.
• Ethanol for the programme is produced domestically from renewable sources such as sugarcane, maize, and agricultural grain surplus.
• The policy aims to reduce national oil imports, lower carbon emissions, and support farmers by boosting demand for agricultural produce.
• A minimum RON of 95 is required to prevent engine knocking, which is the uneven burning of fuel that causes power loss and potential engine damage.
• Ethanol naturally possesses a high octane value of approximately 108 RON, which increases the knock resistance of the fuel blend.
• The target for 20 per cent ethanol blending was advanced to 2025-26 from the original 2030 deadline after India achieved 10 per cent blending in June 2022.
• India has saved more than ₹1.40 lakh crore in foreign exchange through petrol substitution since the 2014-15 period.