New Delhi: The Centre on Friday issued a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) defending the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, asserting that the rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) is the result of over two decades of planning and scientific validation rather than a hurried policy decision.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the initiative is aimed at enhancing India's energy security, reducing dependence on imported crude oil, lowering carbon emissions and providing a stable market for farmers through increased domestic ethanol production. The clarification comes amid continuing concerns over vehicle compatibility, fuel efficiency and pricing.

According to the ministry, India's ethanol blending journey began with a pilot programme in 2001 and was formally launched in 2004. While ethanol blending remained around 1.5 per cent until 2014 due to limited production from sugarcane, the National Policy on Biofuels, introduced in 2018, expanded feedstock to include maize and surplus food grains, significantly boosting production capacity.

The ministry said ethanol blending has steadily increased from about 8.1 per cent in 2020-21 to 10 per cent in 2021-22, 12.1 per cent in 2022-23, 14.6 per cent in 2023-24, 19.2 per cent in 2024-25 and 20 per cent during November 2025 to June 2026.

Rejecting allegations that the automobile industry was sidelined, the ministry said manufacturers had been consulted throughout the transition, with extensive testing carried out on engine calibration, fuel systems, emissions and durability before E20 was introduced.

It said vehicle manuals mentioning E10 compatibility merely reflected the prevailing fuel standards at the time of certification and should not be interpreted as indicating that E20 is unsafe.

Addressing apprehensions over engine damage, the ministry cited service data from Maruti Suzuki, which serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26, including about 1.5 crore older vehicles not originally certified for E20. It said no evidence of E20-related damage to engines, fuel lines or rubber components had emerged.

The ministry acknowledged that some vehicles could experience a marginal reduction in fuel economy of 3 to 5 per cent, but maintained that E20 offers higher octane value, cleaner combustion, lower particulate emissions and the potential to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by nearly 40 per cent.

On pricing, the government said ethanol is procured at remunerative rates to ensure fair returns to farmers and, at prevailing crude oil prices, E20 is not necessarily cheaper to produce than pure petrol. However, blending domestically produced ethanol reduces crude imports, shields consumers from global oil price volatility and strengthens India's energy security.

The ministry also noted that ethanol blending is widely practised globally, with countries such as Brazil, the United States, Japan, Canada and Thailand incorporating ethanol into their fuel strategies.

The government reiterated that the E20 programme had been implemented through phased policy reforms, scientific evaluation and collaboration among automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, research institutions and farmers, describing it as a key step towards achieving a cleaner and more self-reliant energy ecosystem.