India, Aug. 17 -- Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has backed the idea of making E10 petrol available again for older vehicles, even as India continues its nationwide transition to E20 fuel.

In an op-ed published in The Indian Express, Nageswaran and co-author Akash Poojari argued that India's ethanol policy could accommodate different requirements for older and newer vehicles.

Their proposal would allow owners of older vehicles to purchase E10 petrol, while newer vehicles continue to use E20.

E20 petrol contains 20 percent ethanol, compared with the 10 percent ethanol blend for which many older vehicles were designed.

Nageswaran pointed to the large number of vehicles still operating with engines designed for lower ethanol...