Karnataka Survey Finds Four in Five Petrol Pumps Exceeding 20% Ethanol Blend Limit

A recent government survey in Karnataka revealed that 80% of tested petrol pumps were selling fuel with ethanol content exceeding the permitted 20% limit. The findings come amid India's broader push to accelerate the rollout of E20 petrol to cut crude oil imports and lower emissions.

BENGALURU — Four out of five petrol pumps surveyed in Karnataka were found to be selling petrol with ethanol content above the permitted 20% limit, according to a state government minister.

Rizwan Arshad, Karnataka's minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, stated that the state collected 63 fuel samples from various districts and sent them to a certified private laboratory for testing. The action was taken after oil marketing companies reportedly did not respond to the state's requests for details regarding the ethanol content in the samples.

India's E20 petrol programme mandates blending petrol with 20% ethanol. The rollout of E20 was accelerated in 2025 as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to reduce crude oil imports, lower emissions, and support domestic ethanol producers. However, the fuel has faced criticism from opposition parties and vehicle owners concerned about its potential impact on vehicle mileage and compatibility with older models.

At the federal level, official stances on future blending targets have varied. In June, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that India would begin a phased rollout of gasoline blended with 85% ethanol (E85) for flex-fuel vehicles. A month later, junior oil minister Suresh Gopi stated that the government had no immediate plans to raise the ethanol content in gasoline beyond the current 20% limit.

India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the survey findings from Karnataka.

"The findings from Karnataka highlight the critical need for strict quality control and transparency in supply chains as India scales up its national blending mandates. For businesses operating in the automotive and energy sectors, regulatory compliance and consistency in fuel specifications are vital. Stakeholders must closely monitor how oil marketing companies and regulatory bodies address these variances to ensure consumer trust and mechanical compatibility during the ongoing transition." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes