Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri responds to criticism around higher ethanol content in petrol, saying concerns about E20 have intensified only recently despite its phased rollout. He argues that E20 has been used safely for nearly two years and that ethanol-blended fuels have been available for longer in higher ethanol percentages, citing E15-plus availability from April 2023, E19-plus from April 2024, and E20 since April 2025. Puri links ethanol blending to India’s energy security goals, noting that India imports more than 85% of its crude oil and that increasing domestic fuel use can reduce dependence on imported crude, lower foreign-exchange pressure, and help manage risks from global price and supply disruptions. He also says ethanol blending supports farmers and can reduce air pollution. Puri states that a large number of vehicles, including over 200 million two-wheelers and around 2 million four-wheelers, operate on E20 without major reported problems. He further clarifies that E25 is not part of the current rollout and that it remains under testing, while E85 has been introduced for flex-fuel vehicles. The minister dismisses what he calls a “coordinated controversy” over E20.