Are oil marketing companies blending more ethanol than they are allowed to? This question has come up again after the Karnataka government’s claims that they are.

The Congress government in Karnataka tested samples of petrol from various parts of the State and released a report on November 6, claiming that it found ethanol content in excess of 20 per cent across the State, setting the stage for charges and counter-charges. On one side are consumers and the Congress government, while on the other are the Central government, oil majors, and the BJP.

Just as the report made headlines, the Keralam government also announced that it would test petrol samples. The Congress-led United Democratic Front, which is in power in the State, collected samples on November 9 from nine petrol outlets in Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur districts. The results are awaited, as it typically takes about 10 days to process the samples and arrive at conclusive results.

The Karnataka Department of Legal Metrology, led by Rizwan Arshad, the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, had conducted extensive inspections across petrol pumps in the State under Mission Nikhara, an initiative to strengthen consumer protection, transparency, and measurement accuracy.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that protecting consumers “from exploitation and ensuring accountability are our foremost responsibilities”. He said on November 6 that “independent laboratory tests have revealed alarming levels of ethanol blending in petrol samples from major oil companies, with some recording levels as high as 31.2 per cent, well beyond the prescribed E20 limit”.

He added that the Centre cannot turn a blind eye to the violation of E20 norms and blend more ethanol than permitted, imposing a financial burden on ordinary citizens. “Reduced mileage, potential vehicle damage, and rising maintenance costs are concerns that deserve serious attention. It is unacceptable that consumers should bear the cost while oil companies continue to report substantial profits,” he said in a post on the social media platform X.

Shivakumar demanded that the Central government publicly disclose the actual ethanol content in petrol supplied across the country; initiate action against oil companies found exceeding the prescribed blending limits and make petrol pump level audit reports public; establish an E20 Damage Compensation Fund with a simple, time-bound mechanism to compensate affected vehicle owners; and make disclosure of ethanol blending levels mandatory at every petrol outlet and ensure consumers have the choice of fuel suitable for their vehicles.

Oil majors refute allegations

The oil majors refuted the allegation, claiming that the testing was flawed. In a press note, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the biggest oil company in the country, said that the “claims of excessive ethanol blending at certain retail outlets in Karnataka are not supported by testing conducted through prescribed procedures”.

It asserted that “all 893 samples tested across 27 States and UTs [Union Territories], including 56 from Karnataka, were found to be within the prescribed 19-21 per cent ethanol range. Indian Oil, along with BPCL [Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited] and HPCL [Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited], has sought joint, transparent testing with the State government to establish the facts. Indian Oil remains steadfast in its commitment to fuel quality, transparency and customer trust.”

BJP leaders, from Union Ministers to State-level leaders, riding on the back of this release, claimed that the Congress was politicising the E20 move. Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi wanted to know what the Karnataka government’s testing methods were. In a statement on November 10, he said: “The Karnataka certificates state only ethanol percentage by gas chromatography. They do not mention the test method, calibration, dilution, or reference sample.”

Narendra Simha Murthy, the BJP’s social media co-convenor, added to this charge, stating: “Which NABL-accredited laboratories were the fuel samples tested in? Who conducted the tests, what are their technical qualifications? Where and when were the samples collected? From which fuel outlets? Was a documented chain of custody maintained to ensure sample authenticity?”

He also sought to know what sampling, testing, and verification procedures were followed. “Were the prescribed BIS standards and testing protocols adhered to? Were the tests conducted independently, and can the results be independently verified? Can you publish the complete laboratory reports, duly signed and authenticated by the respective laboratories, along with supporting documents substantiating your E20 allegations?”

Keralam civil supplies officials collecting fuel samples from a petrol outlet to check for ethanol content, in Thiruvananthapuram on November 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
NIRMAL HARINDRAN

The Karnataka government has said that it is willing to reveal all the information. In response to the counter-allegations, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said that 63 petrol samples collected from seven districts were sent for testing. “Samples showed ethanol content as high as 30.5 per cent and 31.2 per cent,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said that the State will place its findings before the Central government. “Even the Centre has acknowledged that E20 can reduce fuel efficiency in certain vehicles. What happens when the ethanol content goes beyond 30 per cent? Who will bear the additional fuel cost and the risk to vehicle performance?”

Many social media users are questioning the Central government and want to know why E20 petrol has “21 per cent” ethanol and not 20 per cent, after the IOC said in the release that the samples had between “19 per cent and 21 per cent”.

One commentator wanted the oil majors to publish the standardised results of tests, while another said that ethanol blending was a fraud on the people.

Other Congress and opposition governments are likely to follow suit in testing samples. But despite the noise that issue has generated in both Karnataka and Keralam, Tamil Nadu is strangely silent. While vehicle users in Tamil Nadu too have claimed to have faced problems after E20 petrol usage, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government is yet to act on or take note of such concerns.

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