E20 petrol is now being tested by a second state government. On Monday, 9 November 2026, Kerala’s Civil Supplies Department drew samples at nine fuel stations in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur to check whether the petrol carries more ethanol than the 20% the standard allows. Results are expected within 10 days, and PTI reported on 10 November that no case of excess blending has been confirmed in Kerala so far.
The checks follow Karnataka’s claim, made public on Friday, 6 November, that some petrol samples in that state contained up to 31.2% ethanol. Oil companies and the Union government reject it. With the petroleum ministry counting over 30 crore two-wheelers and 4 crore four-wheelers on E20, the question reaches far beyond two states: is the fuel in your tank what the pump says?
What did Kerala do on 9 November?
Officials collected six samples of one litre each at every outlet, using PESO-approved bottles, with oil-company representatives present, Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram (Times of India, 9 November). Ernakulam accounted for three of the nine pumps; the other three districts had two each.
District Civil Supplies Officer Shaji PR told ANI that two of the Kochi samples were sent to an analytical chemical laboratory in Kakinada (Mint, 9 November). Jacob said the checks followed complaints about vehicle damage and falling mileage, were “not based on any preconceived conclusion” and would be repeated. Outlets found above 20% could be sealed and those responsible prosecuted.
The method matters: six one-litre samples with oil-company witnesses is the procedure the ministry says Karnataka skipped in October.
What exactly did Karnataka claim?
Karnataka’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad released results for samples from 63 petrol bunks on 6 November. According to the Times of India, samples from 14 of those bunks were above the limit, including 31.2% and 30.5% ethanol at some IOCL and HPCL outlets, with some BPCL, Nayara and Shell outlets also flagged.
Arshad also put a price on it. Assuming a 10% mileage drop, he estimated a consumer loss of Rs 62,000 crore, based on petrol sales of 6,200 crore litres at Rs 100-110 a litre. The state wants penalties, an “E20 spoilage fund” for consumers and mandatory blend displays at pumps.
On Monday, 9 November, Arshad called the oil companies’ objections “illogical”. He said the over-blending was happening at six terminals, before fuel reaches pumps, and that the state used NABL-accredited third-party laboratories after oil-company labs did not report ethanol percentages for the original samples (Times of India, 10 November).
Why do the Centre and oil companies reject the 31% figure?
The petroleum ministry’s 7 November PIB statement makes three arguments for IOCL, BPCL and HPCL.
- Procedure: samples were drawn without oil-company representatives, no retention samples were shared, and the lab is not notified under Schedule III of the fuel control order.
- Method: under IS 17021, gas chromatography requires the sample to be diluted 1:1 and corrected against an E10 reference. The Karnataka certificates only say “Ethanol % by Gas Chromatography”.
- Density: the Karnataka samples read 0.742-0.749 g/cc, lower than the 0.752-0.760 g/cc of compliant E20 tested by the companies. More ethanol should raise density, not lower it.
The companies say 893 E20 samples from 27 states and UTs all fell within 19-21%, including 56 Karnataka samples averaging 19.30%. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi repeated the density point on X late on 9 November, and Minister of State for Petroleum Suresh Gopi said states were free to test but should avoid political mudslinging, the Times of India reported.
| Point | Karnataka (6 and 9 Nov) | Centre and oil companies (7 to 9 Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| Samples | 63 bunks, 14 above limit | 893 samples in 27 states/UTs, all compliant |
| Highest ethanol | 31.2% (IOCL), 30.5% (HPCL) | 19-21% range; Karnataka average 19.30% |
| Lab | NABL-accredited third-party labs | Says not a Schedule III notified lab |
| Where blending goes wrong | Six terminals, not pumps | Blending is automated and calibrated |
| Consumer cost | Rs 62,000 crore a year (10% mileage loss) | 1-2% loss for E20-calibrated vehicles, 3-6% for others |
| Demand | Blend display, penalties, spoilage fund, cheaper E20 | Joint sampling and retesting with counterpart samples |
How much could excess ethanol really cost a driver?
We ran both sides’ numbers. The ministry says oil companies blended 1,134 crore litres of ethanol against petrol sales of about 5,673 crore litres in the ethanol supply year to 31 October 2026. That is 19.99%, right on target, though an average cannot rule out individual terminals running hot.
Karnataka’s Rs 62,000 crore is simply 6,200 crore litres, multiplied by Rs 100, multiplied by 10%. With the ministry’s mileage estimates, the same volume and price give Rs 6,200-12,400 crore a year at 1-2%, or Rs 18,600-37,200 crore at 3-6%. One assumption creates a ten-fold spread.
Take a commuter who buys 40 litres a month at an assumed Rs 100 a litre, a Rs 4,000 bill. A 1-2% mileage loss costs about Rs 40-80 a month, 3-6% costs Rs 120-240, and Karnataka’s 10% assumption would mean Rs 400. These are illustrations, not measurements.
The ministry’s 1-6% range describes correctly blended E20. Neither side has published data on what 30% ethanol would do to an E20-rated engine, and we will not guess.
What should petrol car and bike owners do now?
- Check your vehicle’s E20 status on the filler-cap sticker or in the owner’s manual.
- Keep fuel bills with outlet, date and quantity; they are your evidence if a pump is later named.
- Watch the Kerala results. “Within 10 days” of 9 November points to around 19 November.
- Report problems to the oil company and your state’s civil supplies or legal metrology department.
- Do not treat a pump’s density reading as an ethanol test. The dispute itself shows density alone cannot settle the blend.
E20 petrol: confirmed vs not confirmed
| Claim | Status on 10 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Kerala sampled nine pumps in four districts on 9 November | Confirmed by the state minister (PTI, TOI) |
| Kerala found excess ethanol | Not confirmed; results due within about 10 days |
| Karnataka found up to 31.2% ethanol in some samples | Claimed by the state; disputed by oil companies |
| Karnataka’s testing followed the prescribed procedure | Disputed; state says yes, Centre says no |
| Oil-company samples nationwide were 19-21% ethanol | Stated by the ministry (PIB, 7 November) |
| Over-blending happens at six terminals | Karnataka’s allegation; not independently verified |
| E20 cuts mileage by 1-2% (E20-calibrated) or 3-6% (others) | Ministry estimate from earlier studies |
| Consumers will get compensation or cheaper E20 | Demanded by Karnataka; no decision |
| Joint retesting by state and oil companies | Requested by oil companies; not yet agreed |
CarBike Insight Analysis
This is now a Centre-state dispute over measurement, not chemistry. Both sides accept the 20% limit; they disagree on sampling, labs and method. That makes Kerala’s results, drawn with oil-company representatives present, the most useful data point so far.
Our view: there is no verified evidence yet that petrol sold across India is above E20, and the ministry’s own volume figures put the national blend at almost exactly 20%. Equally, a national average and company-run labs cannot fully answer a terminal-level allegation. A joint, documented retest in Karnataka would settle it faster than another round of statements.
For drivers, the steps are dull but effective: confirm your E20 rating, keep receipts and watch for Kerala’s results around 19 November. If they show excess ethanol under an accepted procedure, expect pressure for pump-level blend displays. We will update this report then.
For background, read our explainer on E100 flex fuel vehicle rules from MoRTH, our check of the Toyota Innova flex fuel claims and our report on the windfall tax on fuel exports. The Centre’s full rebuttal is in the petroleum ministry’s PIB statement on E20 quality tests.
FAQ
Is E20 petrol in Kerala above 20% ethanol?
Not known yet. Samples from nine pumps drawn on 9 November are being tested, with results due within about 10 days. No excess blending has been confirmed in the state.
What is the legal ethanol limit in E20 petrol?
E20 means a blend of up to 20% ethanol under the BIS standard IS 17021. The ministry says oil-company tests accept a 19-21% band, and Kerala’s minister has said anything above 20% is not permitted.
Why do oil companies say Karnataka’s tests are wrong?
They say the October samples lacked their witnesses and counterpart samples, the lab was not notified, and the reported density is too low for 30% ethanol.
Does E20 petrol reduce mileage?
The petroleum ministry says vehicles calibrated for E20 lose about 1-2% in mileage and other vehicles about 3-6%. Karnataka’s Rs 62,000 crore estimate assumes 10%, which the ministry disputes.
What can I do if I suspect bad fuel?
Keep your fuel bill, note the pump and date, and complain to the oil company and your state’s civil supplies or legal metrology department. Check your manual or filler-cap sticker to confirm your vehicle is rated for E20.
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