Nitin Gadkari Criticises E20 Backlash Over Social Media, Says It's A 'Paid Campaign'

E20 Fuel in India: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has slammed the criticism surrounding the rollout of ethanol-blended fuel in India, calling it a 'paid political campaign'. Speaking at the SIAM's 65th annual convention held today, Gadkari said that all testing agencies had confirmed there were no problems with the implementation of the government's E20 petrol programme. 

Nitin Gadkari Blames Petrol Lobbyists

Gadkari blamed the social media backlash against the E20 blended petrol on the petroleum lobbyists, saying it was aimed at stalling the smooth transition to E20. 'Everywhere there are lobbies, there are interests… the petrol lobby is very rich. It was against ethanol, and it was to target me politically.' 

His remarks follow days after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended fuel or E20. According to the plea, blending ethanol up to 20 per cent could reduce fuel efficiency by 6-7 per cent in four-wheelers and 3-4 per cent in two-wheelers. The two-judge bench dismissed the petition and observed that the E20 programme was in the interests of sugarcane farmers and was saving precious foreign exchange. 

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Nitin Gadkari: E20 - A Cost-Effective Substitute

Describing E20 as an import substitute that is cost-effective and pollution-free, Nitin Gadkari said, 'We have an import of Rs 22 lakh crore. Is it not appropriate that we have to make in India with our own strength? We can stand on our own strength. So we are working on that.'

Gadkari was of the view that the locally produced ethanol had benefitted corn farmers, as the price of corn increased to Rs 2,800 per quintal from Rs 1200 per quintal due to demand for ethanol. And because of this, there was a threefold increase in the area under maize in Bihar and UP this year. 

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What is the Ethanol Row all about?

In April 2025, India officially transitioned to E20 petrol (20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol), with vehicles manufactured after April 1, 2023, being required to be E20-ready. While major manufacturers hailed the rollout, the initiative triggered a debate among consumers and experts in the sector, with car owners reporting reduced mileage and vehicle damage. 

However, the government dismissed concerns, saying that the ethanol-blended petrol was not only safe but also economically and environmentally viable. In early August, MoRTH took to X and said, 'Ethanol, being lower in energy density than petrol, results in a marginal decrease in mileage, estimated at 1–2 per cent for four-wheelers designed for E10 and calibrated for E20, and around 3–6 per cent in others.'