Why in the News?

• India has achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol five years ahead of schedule, raising debates on its economic, environmental, and EV transition impacts.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Ethanol Blending (Introduction, Blending, Economic & Fiscal Impacts, Agricultural & Environmental Impacts, Global Trade, EV Transition, Future Outlook, etc.)

Introduction

• India has achieved its ambitious target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol (E20) five years ahead of schedule, marking a major milestone in its clean energy transition.
• Ethanol blending, part of the National Policy on Biofuels, has grown from just 1.5% in 2014 to 20% in 2025, driven by strong government incentives.
• While hailed as a step toward energy security, reduced oil imports, and farmer welfare, it has also sparked debates over its impact on vehicle performance, groundwater sustainability, and India’s long-term transition to electric mobility.

Ethanol Blending and Vehicle Owners

• From April 2023, vehicles in India have carried E20 compatibility stickers. However, acceptance among consumers has been limited.

• A LocalCircles survey covering 36,000 respondents found that two in three petrol vehicle owners opposed the E20 mandate, citing reduced mileage and higher maintenance costs.
• Automakers such as Hero MotoCorp have acknowledged the need for new materials (rubbers, elastomers, plastics) to make engines E20-compatible.
• The Union government admits to a “marginal drop” in fuel efficiency but argues that improved engine tuning will offset losses.

• Despite these assurances, NITI Aayog has recommended tax incentives on E10 and E20 fuels to compensate consumers for efficiency loss.

Economic and Fiscal Impacts

• One of the key justifications for ethanol blending has been its role in reducing India’s oil import bill:

• Since 2014-15, ethanol substitution has saved Rs. 1.40 lakh crore in foreign exchange.
• However, benefits to consumers have been limited. While oil PSUs (IOC, BPCL) saw a 255% rise in dividend payouts since 2022-23 due to falling crude prices, petrol prices fell only by 2%, raising questions on whether gains are being equitably shared.

Impact on Agriculture and Environment

• Ethanol blending has opened a steady revenue stream for farmers, especially sugarcane growers:

• Ethanol production grew from 40 crore litres in FY14 to nearly 670 crore litres in FY24, with about 9% of sugar output diverted to fuel.
• The Centre says it has paid Rs. 1.20 lakh crore to farmers since FY15.

• However, concerns persist about the environmental cost:

• Sugarcane cultivation requires 60-70 tonnes of water per tonne of crop, leading to excessive groundwater extraction, especially in drought-prone Maharashtra.
• Nearly 30% of India’s land is already degraded, and water-intensive cropping patterns worsen desertification risks.

• The government is now diversifying ethanol sources:

• Food Corporation of India allocated 5.2 million tonnes of rice for ethanol in 2024-25.
• 34% of corn output was diverted, forcing a surge in corn imports (9.7 lakh tonnes in 2024-25).
• Despite diversification, sugarcane acreage remains stable at ~57 lakh hectares, driven by assured Fair and Remunerative Pricing (FRP).

Global Trade and U.S. Concerns

• India’s booming ethanol sector has attracted international scrutiny.

• The U.S. has pushed India to relax ethanol import restrictions, calling current policies a “trade barrier.”
• The Indian Sugar Mills Association warns that import liberalisation could undermine domestic capacity building and hurt farmers.

Ethanol Blending and the EV Transition

• While ethanol blending has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 700 lakh tonnes, experts argue that a faster shift to electric vehicles (EVs) would deliver greater climate gains.

• India lags global peers, with EVs making up only 7.6% of vehicle sales in 2024. To meet its 2030 target of 30% EV sales, growth must accelerate by over 22% in the next five years.
• EV adoption is constrained by rare earth element (REE) shortages, as India relies heavily on Chinese supplies for components like magnets and batteries.
• Carmakers such as Maruti Suzuki have cut production targets for EVs due to supply chain disruptions.

• The government is engaged in diplomatic talks with Beijing to ensure REE supply stability, highlighting the intersection between energy security and geopolitics.

Future Outlook

• While the Petroleum Ministry has indicated plans to pursue blending beyond 20%, the Union government clarified in March 2025 that no formal decision has been taken.
• Policymakers face a delicate balance between:

• Supporting farmers and energy independence through ethanol.
• Addressing the environmental costs of water-intensive sugarcane.
• Accelerating the shift to EVs for deeper decarbonisation.

• India’s ethanol success is undeniable, but the challenge lies in ensuring that its gains are not offset by ecological and consumer costs.