New Delhi, March 26 -- Indian ethanol producers are pushing for an increase in the fuel blending ratio and a mandate for flex-fuel vehicles, following the sharp rise in crude oil prices due to the ongoing war in West Asia.

India has already touched 20% blending in petrol, using ethanol made from maize, rice and sugarcane. Should it convert more food to fuel, and at what cost? Mint explores.

While addressing Parliament on the West Asia war on 23 March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that ethanol blending in petrol went up from just 1-1.5% a decade back to 20% currently.

Ethanol, a biofuel made from agricultural crops, is now replacing about 45 million barrels of imported crude oil every year (total imports in FY25 were about 1...