Nitin Gadkari remark on E20 sparks debate
Narendra Modi-led NDA government is facing high criticism over ethanol-blended fuel and drop of mileage, responding to the critics Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has sparked a fresh debate. Nitin Gadkari said that average car owners cannot accurately measure their vehicle’s fuel efficiency by themself and they should rely on tests conducted by authorised dealers and authorities.
While speaking to a private news channel on 13th July 2026 when the journalist claimed that her car’s mileage has dropped after switching to government-mandated E20 fuel. Union Minister responded to the question with another question that how you have calculated the mileage of your car.
Responding to Gadkari’s question, she replied that "I checked it in my car, just as everyone does," referring to the dashboard mileage display.
Gadkari has been defending the ethanol blended petrol from the very beginning and now he claims that accurate fuel-efficiency readings can only be measured through manufacturer-authorised testing equipment.
He said, "You and I can’t check the mileage. A car's mileage can only be checked using a company-authorised dealer's machine.”
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas also released a question-and-answer document last week responding to the criticism regarding the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme. The government has acknowledged that E20 petrol may reduce the mileage in some vehicles, but the document also argued that mileage is not the only factor that one should consider.
The center stated that "It is true that in some vehicles there may be a 3-5% reduction in fuel economy. But mileage is only one parameter."
The Government of India has mandated the nationwide sale of E20 petrol from 1st April as part of its push to increase ethanol blending, reduce dependence on imported crude oil and cut emission.
