EconomySaturday, 4 April 2026·https://testbook.com/current-affairs/04-april-2026-daily-current-affairs
India adopts E20 petrol nationwide under BIS quality norms and 95 RON standard
India has made E20 petrol the standard fuel nationwide, with 20% ethanol, 80% petrol and a minimum 95 RON quality benchmark.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In April 2026, India made E20 petrol the standard fuel across all states and Union Territories, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas requiring 20% ethanol blending and BIS quality norms.
Key specifics
- E20 consists of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.
- The fuel must meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms under the BIS Act, 2016.
- E20 has a minimum 95 Research Octane Number (RON), higher than the 91–92 RON of regular petrol.
- Ethanol is derived from crops such as sugarcane, maize and other grains.
- The policy aims to reduce crude oil imports, save foreign exchange and cut carbon monoxide emissions.
Exam lens
Question type: Economy, energy security and biofuel policy. TNPSC one-liner: India’s April 2026 E20 rollout means 20% ethanol blending, BIS standards and a minimum 95 RON rating.