# Govt rules out E25, admits 3-5% mileage loss on E20 2026-08-08T23:46:05+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Union government has told the Rajya Sabha that it has no plans to increase ethanol blending beyond the current 20% (E20) and that any move to E25 would require more scientific studies and consultations. However, it conceded that older vehicles designed for E10 may see a 3-5% drop in fuel efficiency on E20, calling it a minor issue influenced by driving habits. The response came after Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called for scrutiny and Rajya Sabha MP PP Suneer questioned the government's stance. The government defended E20 as the product of long testing by NITI Aayog, automakers, and ARAI, claiming over 20 crore two-wheelers and 3 crore petrol cars have used it without widespread failure and that warranties remain valid. Meanwhile, Frontline’s webinar highlighted deeper concerns: ethanol production now relies heavily on maize and rice, raising fears of a food security crisis. The Attorney General had earlier called the programme an “experiment”, deepening the controversy. ## Coverage - frontline.thehindu.com - timesnownews.com Tags: agriculture, ethanol blending, food security, fuel policy, Supreme Court Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/e20-ethanol-blend-sparks-debate-on-mileage-food-security/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/e20-ethanol-blend-sparks-debate-on-mileage-food-security/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.