New Delhi, June 11 -- In its latest push for ethanol-blended fuels, the Narendra Modi-led Central government has waived off excise duty on several variants, including E22, E25, E27 and E30.

Essentially this means that excise duty will be 'nil' on petrol with 22%, 25% , 27% and 30% ethanol blend.

The waiver is aimed encouraging customers to move towards ethanol-blended petrol at a time when petrol and diesel prices have increased by a cumulative Rs.7.5 per litre since the escalation of the West Asia conflict.

In March, the central government had cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs.10/litre - foregoing over Rs.1 lakh crore of annual revenue - in an attempt to cushion domestic customers from the surge in global crude oil prices.

R...