New Delhi, March 3 -- In the global energy landscape, India stands strong as the third largest biofuel producer, driving the shift towards cleaner and renewable energy, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Monday.

The minister highlighted in a post on X social media platform that "India has achieved 19.6 per cent ethanol blending in petrol as of January this year and is set to achieve 20 per cent very soon - five years ahead of the original 2030 schedule, reducing fuel imports and emissions."

During the last 10 years the ethanol blending initiatives have enhanced farmer incomes as it is made from sugarcane, increased rural employment, reduced CO2 emissions equivalent to planting 1.75 crore trees and resulte...