India Faces Growing Backlash Over E20 Ethanol Fuel Policy After “Experiment” Remark

India’s government is working to calm public frustration over its mandatory 20% ethanol blended petrol policy, known as E20, after consumers raised concerns about reduced fuel efficiency and vehicle performance. The mandate took effect last year and has since become one of the biggest political flashpoints for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the world’s third-largest car market, with a public protest now being planned.

Attorney General’s “Experiment” Comment Sparks Outrage

Tensions rose sharply this week after Attorney General R. Venkataramani told a court hearing that E20 was an “experiment” whose results would not be known until next year. The government initially denied the remark had been made, but video of the hearing later went viral online. Venkataramani later told reporters he had used the word “experiment” in reference to ethanol supply volumes rather than the fuel policy itself, but the clarification did little to ease public anger, with critics accusing the government of rolling out the policy too quickly.

Officials Push Back Against Criticism

India’s government press office dismissed the backlash as exaggerated claims and urged people not to get caught up in what it called rage bait. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attempted to reassure drivers by comparing ethanol fuel to its use in motor racing, acknowledging that mileage may drop slightly while noting that acceleration can improve.

Protest Planned in New Delhi

New Delhi-based Congress party supporter Tehseen Poonawalla said he is organizing a protest against the E20 policy in the capital on Sunday, saying thousands of people have already expressed interest in joining. Congress party state minister Priyank Kharge said the rollout lacked proper consultation and argued the government cannot ask citizens to prove damage while its own data remains unpublished.

Hundreds of drivers have posted complaints on social media claiming E20 fuel has hurt their vehicle’s fuel efficiency and caused faster wear on car parts. In one widely viewed video, a motorist named Manish Kashyap showed his car at a repair shop, saying he had spent significant money on the vehicle only to see it break down within two months of using the fuel.

Government Defends the Policy’s Benefits

Officials maintain that E20 helps lower carbon emissions, reduces the country’s crude oil import bill, and supports farmer incomes by boosting demand for the agricultural crops used to produce ethanol.