SC dismisses plea challenging nationwide rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1, 2025) dismissed a petition challenging the nationwide rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20), which alleged that millions of motorists were being compelled to use fuel unsuited to their vehicles without the option of availing ethanol-free petrol.

A Bench of Chief Justice of IndiaIndiaIndia (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran dismissed the petition after the Union government defended the policy as one that bolsters the income of sugarcane farmers and conserves foreign exchange.

Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the petitioner, cited NITI Aayog’s 2021 report ‘Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25’, which acknowledged that blending ethanol up to 20% could reduce fuel efficiency by 6-7% in four-wheelers and 3-4% in two-wheelers. He clarified that the petitioner was not opposed to ethanol blending per se, but was seeking the availability of ethanol-free petrol for vehicles manufactured prior to April 2023, which are not E20-compliant.