New Delhi, April 1 -- Effective today, Centre has rolled out a new fuel mandate requiring petrol pumps nationwide to supply E20 fuel with a minimum octane rating of 95 RON. This marks a significant milestone in India's ethanol blending programme, aimed at promoting cleaner transportation, reducing dependence on crude oil imports, and enhancing energy security.

As per the February 17 notification, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas instructed the oil companies to supply petrol blended with up to 20 percent ethanol. The fuel must also comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications to maintain uniformity across country. However, there might be some exemptions in specific regions or exceptional situations for limited peri...