The Hidden Price of India's Ethanol Rush

This month, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition that argued Indian consumers should be given a choice between regular petrol and 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20).

- SHREY MADAAN

This month, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition that argued Indian consumers should be given a choice between regular petrol and 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20). The government claimed the move benefits sugarcane farmers. But what about the millions of drivers whose cars and two-wheelers cannot handle it? Once again, consumers are left out of the equation.

Realistically, E20 may be good in the long run, but India rushed ahead without giving motorists the freedom to choose. For anyone driving a vehicle made before April 2023, filling up with E20 is not just inconvenient; it could damage engines, reduce mileage, and increase maintenance costs. Imagine a middle-class family still paying off a scooter bought in 2020, suddenly being told their fuel could corrode the engine. That is not an upgrade; it is an unfair burden.