Gadkari Defends Ethanol Blending, Cites Benefits for Farmers and Innovation
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke at the Bihar Investor Summit on October 1, 2026, and dismissed concerns about blending ethanol with petrol. He pointed out that since 2022, over 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers have been running on blended fuel without any complaints.
Gadkari emphasized that the goal of blending ethanol with petrol is to diversify the agriculture sector towards energy production. This initiative has led to additional earnings of up to ₹45,000 crore for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who produce corn-based ethanol.
The Minister claimed that leading automobile brands have successfully tested running their vehicles on 100% ethanol without any issues. He also highlighted the potential for innovation and technology in the agriculture sector, citing examples such as producing aviation fuel from rice straw.