India, July 12 -- The Indian National Congress believes that any energy transition must be people-centric

The Government of India's push towards 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol is being projected as a revolutionary step towards energy security and environmental sustainability. While reducing dependence on imported crude oil is an important national objective, public policy must be judged not by its intentions but by its impact on ordinary citizens. Unfortunately, the E20 policy raises serious concerns that cannot be ignored.

First, millions of Indians own vehicles that were never designed to run on E20 fuel. Using higher ethanol blends in older vehicles can increase maintenance costs, reduce fuel efficiency, and potentially damage ...