On ethanol fuel, move slower — with a plan
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500+ questions on Environment with explanations
📌 Summary:
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Context: the Centre is going slow on ethanol blending beyond the current 20% (E20), even though the Finance Ministry last month exempted petrol with 22/25/27/30% ethanol from excise duty and BIS issued specifications for these higher blends
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Blending trajectory: all-India average ratio rose from 5% to 10% between 2019-20 and 2021-22, then doubled to 20%; E20 became mandatory for all petrol from April 2026 — achieved well before the original 2030 deadline
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Why the pause makes sense — two genuine motorist concerns: (1) ethanol's calorific value is 30–35% lower than pure petrol → reduced mileage; (2) ethanol is hygroscopic (moisture-absorbing) → corrosion of steel fuel tanks and internal metal components
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Only vehicles sold in India after April 2023 have full E20 material compatibility; owners of older cars/two-wheelers feel short-changed as they were never told about mileage loss and engine wear at purchase
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Editorial's prescriptions: transparent communication before rolling out E25/E30; fiscal measures to price higher blends cheaper than E20; a clear, calibrated, forward-looking roadmap avoiding the abruptness of earlier rollouts
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Strategic rationale unchanged: biofuels and transport electrification must continue — India is ~90% import-dependent for crude, and the Iran war will not be the last global oil supply shock
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Feedstock caution: avoid water-guzzling rice for ethanol; promote sweet sorghum, bajra and other millets as sustainable feedstocks, with breeding for higher starch content and fermentation efficiency comparable to maize/sugarcane
🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — energy security, biofuel policy, agriculture-energy-water nexus; balancing decarbonisation targets with consumer protection
📝 Prelims Facts:
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E20 mandatory for all petrol sold in India from April 2026 (original ethanol roadmap target was 2030)
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Ethanol's calorific value is 30-35% lower than petrol; it is hygroscopic
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BIS has issued specifications for E22, E25, E27, E30 blends; excise duty exempted on them
🔑 Key Term: Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme — flagship biofuel programme mandating mixing of ethanol in petrol to cut crude imports, reduce emissions and support farmers
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