Tests found up to 31.2% ethanol in E20: Karnataka minister
What's the story
Karnataka's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad has claimed that major oil companies are selling petrol with ethanol content exceeding the permissible limit of 20%. At a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, he revealed that samples from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) contained up to 31.2% and 30.5% ethanol, respectively.
Consumer protection
Samples from other companies also exceeded limit
Arshad said his department collected 63 petrol samples across Karnataka for testing.
The samples from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Nayara, and Shell showed ethanol content of 26.5%, 26.1%, and 25.5%, respectively.
Bengaluru was one of the districts where samples exceeded the limit.
"We demand transparency from the Union Government, strict action against over-blending, compensation for affected consumers," Arshad said in a social media post.
Twitter Post
Check his tweet here
Addressed a press conference today and shared laboratory findings exposing excessive ethanol blending in petrol supplied across Karnataka. Tests conducted at NABL-accredited and ISO-certified laboratories found ethanol levels exceeding 20%, with certain IOCL and HPCL samples… pic.twitter.com/dhckW4s6GI
— Rizwan Arshad (@ArshadRizwan) November 6, 2026
Vehicle concerns
Most vehicles not built for E20 blends
Arshad questioned if vehicles on Indian roads can run on blends above E20, noting that 99% of India's vehicle population isn't built for it.
"If we are only beginning to manufacture E20-compliant vehicles after 2023, what proportion of the total vehicle population does this represent? It is a very small fraction; only a tiny percentage of vehicles are E20-compliant. If the ethanol blend exceeds E20, even these E20-compliant vehicles will face problems," he said.
Economic impact
Arshad demands 'E20 spoilage fund'
Arshad estimated a "hidden loss" of about ₹62,000 crore annually to consumers due to higher ethanol blends.
He based this on an assumed 10% loss in mileage and an annual national fuel consumption. Excessive ethanol blending could lead to an additional ₹39,000 crore in vehicle servicing costs annually, he said.
He listed four demands to the government, including an "E20 spoilage fund" for compensating consumers whose vehicles were damaged due to over-blending.
Demands
'Publicly clarify actual ethanol blend'
He also called for mandatory disclosure of ethanol blend percentages at fuel pumps across India and action against OMCs supplying petrol with over 20% ethanol.
His fourth demand was for the Centre to publicly clarify the actual ethanol blend being supplied to consumers.
"The Union Government, OMCs...vehicle manufacturers are making windfall profits at the cost of consumers," Arshad claimed.
He further warned that the state government would submit the findings to the Centre, continue testing petrol, and release its findings.