ARTICLE 2 #EthanolBlending

India’s ethanol production has grown rapidly, with blending levels rising significantly over the past six years. Ethanol supply grew from under 200 crore litres and a 5% blending rate in FY19 to more than 820 crore litres and a 19.9% blending rate in FY25.The country reached its milestone of 20% ethanol blending (E20) in March 2025, five years ahead of the original 2030 target. This progress has been driven by capacity expansion, feedstock diversification, and stable pricing policies.

India is witnessing a sharp rise in maize cultivation, largely driven by the push towards ethanol blending with petrol under the government’s E20 programme. The move is changing crop patterns, impacting other agricultural sectors, and setting up both opportunities and challenges.