New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- The government has been stepping on the pedal on ethanol-blended petrol. Last month, it said it was on the verge of achieving a 20% blend of ethanol in petrol-a near four-fold increase since 2020 and in line with a target it had brought forward by five years.

Along with its own announcements on the subject, it also fielded a volley of questions in the ongoing session of Parliament. In one of those responses, the government clarified there was no decision yet to go beyond 20%, but media reports said a 27% blend was the next step under consideration. All these discussions have reopened old fault lines.







In a developing country like India, where a vehicle is a significant purchase and has a long lifespan, E20 fue...