New Delhi: The E20 petrol debate has taken a fresh turn, with the Karnataka government alleging that petrol sold across the state contains significantly higher levels of ethanol than the prescribed 20% blend. Independent laboratory tests conducted by the government have, it said on Friday (November 6), detected ethanol concentrations as high as 31.2%.At a press conference, Karnataka’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Rizwan Arshad,highlighted the findings of the Karnataka Legal Metrology Department, which tested 63 petrol samples collected from seven districts. According to the reported findings, four out of every five samples contained more than 20% ethanol.The state government has demanded action against the oil marketing companies based on its findings and compensation for consumers via a fund. It has also sought the option of E10 fuel, which Indian vehicle owners used until the mandatory switch to E20.Among the reported readings, an IOCL sample recorded 31.2% ethanol, while HPCL samples registered 30.5% and 27%. BPCL recorded 26.5%, Nayara Energy 26.1% and Shell 25.5%.“Vote chori is being discussed, but what about petrol chori and the exploitation of common people? We demand transparency, accountability and protection of consumer rights,” he said.Today, at the press meet, I highlighted the serious concerns surrounding ethanol-blended petrol (E20) and its impact on consumers.The Karnataka Legal Metrology Department tested 63 petrol samples across the state. Our findings revealed that 4 out of every 5 samples contained more then 20% ethanol blending, while oil companies failed to provide clear answers.Vote chori is being discussed, but what about petrol chori and the exploitation of common people?We demand transparency, accountability and protection of consumer rights.#Ethanol #E20 #ConsumerRights #Karnataka #Votechori #PetrolChori— Rizwan Arshad (@ArshadRizwan) November 6, 2026The minister also said that the samples were initially sent to the oil marketing companies, but they returned no clear answer. “None of the oil marketing companies, for all the 63 samples, gave us a clear answer about how much is the content of ethanol. If we test five samples, four samples are testing above 20%,” Arshad said.This prompted the civil supplies department of the state government to send the samples to private laboratories for independent testing.The blending revealed by the Karnataka government’s test.The samples were collected from fuel outlets operated by major oil marketing companies, including Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), Shell and Nayara Energy. Karnataka is the first government to have tested samples.Bengaluru was among the seven districts where samples are said to have exceeded the 20% limit.The Union government has pushed E20 petrol despite consumer resistance to it, assuring consumers that it is a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. The stated aim was to reduce the burden of crude oil imports and support domestic agricultural producers as well as reduce fuel-linked emissions.In July, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had informed Lok Sabha that petrol, when blended with 20% ethanol (E20), can reduce vehicle fuel efficiency by 2 to 6%, based on the vehicle category and age.However, higher-than-prescribed dilution with ethanol revives concerns about vehicle compatibility and consumer costs. Karnataka has said it will forward its findings to the Union government and it has demanded transparency from oil marketing companies to protect consumer rights.“Few vehicles are E20 compliant. Even E20-compliant vehicles will also have issues (if ethanol content is more than 20%),” Arshad said, as per a Reuters report.He also called for a compensation fund for vehicle owners who are paying more for fuel than in the past, while mileage suffers on vehicles running on the blended fuel.Gadkari also informed parliament in July that BS-III vehicles manufactured between April 1, 2005 and 2016 may require replacement of certain rubber parts and gaskets when running on E20 petrol. In August, a Reuters investigation had found that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers had privately flagged concerns about contaminated E20 fuel and its potential impact on vehicle parts.The rollout of E20 petrol has faced criticism from Opposition parties as well as consumer groups, who say it is incompatible with older vehicles, reduces fuel efficiency and raises vehicle maintenance costs and many have questioned why the price of the fuel remains the same as 10% ethanol-blended petrol.Gadkari faced severe backlash over introduction of this blend, including from a digital outfit that called itself “E20 Janta Party”, mocking the Union government over introducing ethanol-blended fuel and the dismal state of roads.