Last Updated:
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas rejected the claim that Karnataka petrol outlets supplied fuel exceeding the 20 percent ethanol limit
The Centre has rejected claim that certain petrol outlets in Karnataka are selling fuel exceeding the 20 per cent ethanol limit
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said Saturday that it had taken note of the claim that certain petrol outlets in Karnataka were supplying fuel with ethanol content exceeding the mandated 20 per cent limit.
In an official statement released Saturday, November 7, the ministry noted that three oil marketing companies –– Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) –– had clarified that the claims were not supported by testing conducted in accordance with the prescribed statutory and technical procedures
“E20 petrol supplied by the three OMCs across the country, including Karnataka, conforms to IS 17021, the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for ethanol-blended motor gasoline. They have also raised concerns regarding the sampling procedure and testing methodology adopted for the October 2026 exercise”, the statement read.
According to the ministry, the prescribed procedure for petrol testing involves collecting six one-litre samples. Of these, two must be handed over to the dealer against acknowledgement, two retained by the oil company or concerned department, and the remaining two sent to a laboratory specified under Schedule III of the Control Order or notified in the Official Gazette. The sample labels must be jointly signed by the concerned officials, while the test results must be communicated to both the dealer and the oil company within the stipulated timeframe.
“While samples drawn during the September 2026 exercise were routed through the State Level Coordinator to designated OMC laboratories and tested for the quality parameters requested under the MDG 2024, the subsequent exercise in October reportedly involved samples drawn without the participation of OMC representatives. The OMCs have also not received the corresponding retention samples, complete outlet-wise details or laboratory reports, despite seeking these through the State Level Coordinator”, it said.
What Is The Controversy?
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that certain petrol companies were supplying fuel containing more than the prescribed amount of ethanol.
Citing laboratory tests of samples collected from seven districts in Karnataka, Gandhi claimed that 11 of the 14 petrol samples tested at an accredited laboratory contained more than 20 per cent ethanol.
E20 becomes 420 – Petrol stolen from public vehicles! Modi government says – Petrol contains 20% ethanol. The Karnataka government collected petrol samples from 7 districts and got them tested in a recognized lab.
See the result – More than 20% ethanol in 11 out of 14 samples – 31.2% in IOCL, 30.5% in HPCL – IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Nayara, Shell – be it government or private – all above the limit – and the companies’ own labs did not even mention the quantity of ethanol in the report.
Meaning you are paying for expensive petrol, the tank is being filled with ethanol. Whose loss? Yours.
Your car is not made to digest this much ethanol – meaning, decreasing mileage, frequent mechanic visits. Waste of a car taken as a hobby.
And it is not even written on the pump what is being put into the tank – no option to choose.
Modi ji, tell me – what is being filled in the country’s tank? How much ethanol is actually in petrol? When will action be taken against companies adulterating more than 20%?
And the challenge of debate still stands. This will also add to the issue – who is actually benefiting from your policies?
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 7, 2026
In a post on X, the Congress leader cited samples from Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), which allegedly showed ethanol levels of 31.2 per cent and 30.5 per cent, respectively.
“Your car wasn’t built to handle that much ethanol – meaning, lower mileage, repeated trips to the mechanic. A car you bought with such enthusiasm is being ruined”, he wrote.
He also raised concerns over the lack of clear labelling at petrol pumps, arguing that consumers are not adequately informed about the proportion of ethanol blended into the fuel they use in their vehicles.
“Mr. Modi, tell us – what’s being put in the country’s tank? How much ethanol is actually in the petrol? When will action be taken against companies mixing in more than 20%?” Gandhi asked.
The Centre’s E20 petrol policy, which took effect in April 2025, has triggered a growing debate among motorists, automobile manufacturers, opposition leaders and the government. At the centre of the controversy is the mandatory use of petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, with concerns being raised over vehicle compatibility and fuel efficiency.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Rahul Gandhi alleged that certain petrol outlets in Karnataka were supplying fuel with ethanol exceeding the mandated 20 per cent limit, citing tests showing levels up to 31.2 per cent at IOCL and 30.5 per cent at HPCL pumps.
Ask News18About the Author
A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More
November 07, 2026, 1:56 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
