
Supply of ethanol-blended petrol jumps more than 4-fold in four years
Further, for the ongoing Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024-25, as of June 30, 2025, a total of 661.06 crore litres of ethanol has been blended with petrol, achieving a blending percentage of 18.93 per cent, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.
During the month of June 2025, ethanol blending of 19.92 per cent has been achieved. All retail outlets of Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies across the country, having petrol selling facilities, dispense E20 petrol, the minister added.
Highlighting India's achievements in the biofuels sector, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh highlighted that nearly 20 per cent ethanol blending has been achieved in 2025, a significant rise from 1.53 per cent in 2014. This accomplishment has resulted in Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange savings, substitution of 238 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, a reduction of 717 lakh metric tonnes in CO2 emissions, and direct payments of Rs 1.21 lakh crore to farmers.
Farmers have gained as the sugar mills that are also producing ethanol can now afford to pay higher prices for sugarcane and clear pending dues in time.
Encouraged by the performance, the government decided to advance the target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to ESY 2025-26.
In order to achieve the 20 per cent ethanol blending target by ESY 2025-26, the government has taken several measures which include a detailed Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India, expansion of feedstock for the production of ethanol, remunerative price for procurement of ethanol under the EBP Programme, lowering of the GST rate to 5 per cent on ethanol for EBP Programme, and an amendment in the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act for free movement of ethanol across states for blending.
An interest subvention scheme for enhancement and augmentation of ethanol production capacity in the country; regular floating of Expression of Interest (EoI) by Public Sector oil marketing companies for procurement of ethanol has also been undertaken.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
UPI payment without PIN: Is NPCI considering face recognition and biometrics for authorising transactions?
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills How will UPI payments change via biometrics? Will you soon be able to approve all UPI transactions just by using your face ID and biometrics, without having to input your PIN every time? There are reports that NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India) is considering enabling UPI payments by way of face ID or biometrics, rendering PIN optional for authenticating UPI Wealth Online approached NPCI for comments; however, they refused to comment on this. They are neither confirming nor denying the development. However, as Akash Sinha, CEO and Founder of Cashfree Payments, explains, biometric-enabled UPI is the next big leap in India's digital payments evolution.'By removing the dependency on manual PIN entry, it paves the way for faster, more frictionless transactions, dramatically improving conversions in high-speed checkout environments. Just as importantly, it strengthens the compliance backbone of our payment infrastructure, ensuring that every transaction is uniquely tied to the individual, not just the device. This is where the future of payments is headed: a seamless blend of intelligence, identity, and trust,' he further present, you have to put in your UPI-PIN, or UPI Personal Identification Number, which is a 4-6 digit passcode, every time you have to authorise any bank implemented, you could soon be able to authorise your UPI transactions using your biometric information, such as fingerprint, eye iris scan, and other distinct physical highlight that this will be a major step in bringing down UPI-related financial frauds. This is because bodily traits are extremely difficult to be stolen, unlike UPI pins, which can be obtained by fraudsters via various Rohit Mahajan, Founder and Managing Partner of plutos ONE, "By removing any need to remember a PIN, not only does this redefine convenience, but it also includes millions of individuals, especially the elderly and those from rural backgrounds, who have less digital literacy, into a space of safe, tech-enabled transactions. Biometrics improve security and reduce fraud by tying access to the individual. For that vast population of users, this then makes transacting digitally virtually frictionless, particularly with those who have difficulty recalling a password or navigating a complex as Mahajan adds, to ensure that this change is effectively deployed, there needs to be serious consideration around the user experience with strong safeguards around data privacy, consent, and infrastructure to the RBI's Payment System Indicators report for June 2025, UPI transaction volume swelled to 18.39 billion, with their total value coming to Rs 24.03 lakh crore. As UPI is steadily gaining a higher market share of payment transactions, this added layer of security is likely to enhance the overall safety of UPI transactions.


Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Himachal deputy CM launches digital systems to modernise HRTC operations
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Tuesday launched four new information technology-based systems developed by Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) in collaboration with the department of digital technologies and governance. These include an online travel pass system enabling school and college students, govt employees, and traders to apply online for concessional passes, pay fees digitally, and receive radio frequency identification (RFID)-based smart cards. A digital bus inspection scheduling system was also introduced to improve monitoring of staff performance and ensure timely checks, with schedules now being transmitted via mobile SMS. A global positioning system (GPS)-based bus tracking system was initiated for 82 buses in Shimla, which would later be extended to the entire fleet of HRTC buses to ensure better real-time monitoring. A new platform, 'Him Access HRTC system' was also launched, allowing over 9,000 employees to access their personal and salary details online. Agnihotri said that to strengthen infrastructure, it was decided that Rs 7 crore would be spent on the repair and maintenance of various bus stands across the state, along with the installation of CCTV cameras at all bus terminals for public safety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo A modern bus stand facility would also be constructed at Mandi Bharari in Bilaspur district to cater to increasing commuter traffic. Directions were also issued to speed up the process of setting up e-charging stations at workshops and bus stands to support the arrival of electric buses in the state fleet. Approval was also given for the launch of a new scheme, 'Him Bus Plus', which integrates identity management with cashless payments. Under this scheme, commuters would receive a 5% discount on fares for all HRTC buses, including Volvo services, he added. A loyalty programme would also provide cashback benefits based on monthly travel. To attract more passengers, the fare of super luxury buses would be reduced by 15%, allowing cardholders to avail up to a 20% discount along with loyalty rewards. Agnihotri stated that to attract more tourists and increase revenue, 'Tourist Day Circuits' would be introduced, connecting major religious and tourist spots around Shimla. Approval was also given to new revenue measures such as implementing an advertisement policy on HRTC tickets, website, and app, and piloting the operation of retail fuel outlets at two to three locations using HRTC's own fuel pumps. A dhaba policy would also be put in place to empanel eateries along bus routes with a focus on hygiene and commuter convenience, he added. MSID:: 122976227 413 |


NDTV
36 minutes ago
- NDTV
MG Astor Prices Hiked By Up To Rs 19,000; Check Details
JSW MG Motor India has revised the prices of the Astor SUV for the Indian market. The SUV rivals models like Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, and has received an upward revision of up to Rs 19,000, depending on the variant. This follows the changes in the prices of the models like Comet EV and Windsor EV sold by the brand in the country. Getting into the details, the pricing for the top-end Savvy Pro 1.3 Turbo AT variant has not changed. The base model Sprint 1.5 MT and the Select 1.5 MT variants of the MG Astor have seen an increase of Rs 18,000 each. In the same vein, the Shine 1.5 MT and Sharp Pro 1.5 MT variants have experienced price hikes of Rs 19,000 and Rs 13,000, respectively. Also Read: What's Delhi Traffic Prahari App: Here's All You Should Know A price increase of Rs 15,000 applies to the Select 1.5 CVT, Sharp Pro 1.5 CVT, and the Sharp Pro 1.5 CVT dual-tone variants. Meanwhile, the prices of all other variants have increased by Rs 17,000 each. The SUV's pricing now ranges from Rs 11.48 lakh to Rs 18.55 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom). Regarding features, the MG Astor comes equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a fully-digital instrument cluster, a 6-speaker audio setup, over 80 connected car features, an auto-dimming IRVM, and a voice recognition system from Jio. With respect to safety, the Astor is equipped with 14 Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features. The Astor is offered with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine, which can be paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed CVT automatic unit. This engine produces 109 bhp and a peak torque of 144 Nm.