SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said the sale and regulation of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) is under the administrative domain of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, with public sector oil marketing companies currently selling E20 petrol across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir.
The government’s response came in reply to an unstarred question by MLA Shamim Firdous on concerns over the use of E20 petrol in Kashmir, including reported issues relating to vehicle performance, mileage and starting difficulties during cold weather.
According to the reply, the concerns regarding E20, including vehicle mileage, maintenance and the availability of E0 or E10 petrol, have been addressed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through a Press Information Bureau release issued on July 10, 2026.
The government did not state that it had proposed a separate E0 or E10 petrol option at Srinagar fuel stations, or that ethanol blending would be made optional for colder regions such as Kashmir.The PIB backgrounder said ethanol blending in petrol has been part of India’s policy for more than two decades. It said the blending level increased from around 8.1 per cent in 2020-21 to 20 per cent during the November 2025-June 2026 period.
On vehicle performance, the Centre said some vehicles may see a 3–5 per cent reduction in fuel economy with E20, while maintaining that vehicles calibrated for E20 had undergone testing covering engine durability, corrosion resistance and drivability.The backgrounder also said E20 compatibility had been examined with automobile manufacturers and other stakeholders before the fuel was introduced.
The PIB document further stated that India’s E20 programme was intended to reduce crude oil imports, support domestic ethanol production and improve energy security.The J&K Government’s response did not independently assess the reported vehicle-related concerns in Kashmir but referred the issue to the Union ministry’s clarification on the E20 programme.
