New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on August 31 a petition seeking mandatory and uniform labelling of the exact ethanol percentage blended in petrol at every fuel station in the country. The petition has asked the Centre and other concerned authorities to ensure that petrol dispensing nozzles clearly display the ethanol content of the fuel being sold. The matter is listed before a bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale, according to the Supreme Court’s causelist.
The petition, filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami, also seeks directions requiring fuel invoices to clearly mention the percentage of ethanol blended in the petrol purchased by consumers. It further calls for the creation and publication of an official, publicly searchable vehicle-compatibility database covering different ethanol blends. The proposed database would provide information based on vehicle manufacturer, model, engine type and year of manufacture, helping consumers understand whether their vehicles are compatible with fuels such as E20.
The plea has also sought the formation of an independent expert committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Bureau of Indian Standards and independent automobile engineers. The committee has been proposed to examine the real-world compatibility of E20 petrol across India’s existing vehicle fleet and submit a public report on its findings. 
According to the petition, the expert committee should assess the impact of E20 fuel on vehicle fuel efficiency, engine life, maintenance expenses, warranties and insurance. It has also sought an assessment of the environmental impact of ethanol blending, including tailpipe emissions and water consumption associated with ethanol production. The petition further raises concerns related to food security and the diversion of agricultural resources towards ethanol production.
The petitioner has also urged the Supreme Court to direct the authorities to establish a national consumer disclosure protocol for all ethanol-blended petrol. The proposed protocol would be prepared in consultation with the Central Consumer Protection Authority and the Bureau of Indian Standards and would aim to provide consumers with clear and consistent information about the fuel they are purchasing.
The plea further seeks disclosure before the Supreme Court of relevant government policy documents, technical studies, vehicle compatibility reports, safety standards, consumer advisories and records of public consultations that support the nationwide implementation of E20 petrol. The petitioner has argued that greater transparency is needed regarding the technical and consumer implications of the ethanol-blending programme.
In addition, the petition has called for a time-bound and transparent transition framework for older vehicles and vehicles that may not be compatible with higher ethanol blends. It has suggested considering the availability of lower-ethanol petrol for legacy and non-compatible vehicles wherever technically, economically and logistically feasible. Any such decision, the plea states, should be based on expert assessment, transparent reasoning and public consultation.
The Supreme Court’s hearing could therefore have wider implications for E20 petrol, ethanol blending, fuel labelling, vehicle compatibility and consumer rights in India. The petition seeks greater transparency so that consumers can clearly identify the ethanol content of petrol and understand the compatibility of different fuel blends with their vehicles.
