Gadkari Rejects Ethanol Damage Claims, Challenges Critics to Provide Evidence

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has pushed back against concerns that ethanol-blended petrol can damage vehicles, challenging critics to produce evidence of affected vehicles. Speaking at the Bihar Investor Summit 2026, Gadkari defended the Centre's ethanol-blending programme, which aims to reduce dependence on conventional fuels and create a new market for agricultural produce.

Gadkari said around 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers have been running on petrol blended with ethanol since 2022. He also stated that leading automobile manufacturers had tested vehicles with higher ethanol blends, including those capable of running on 100% ethanol.

The minister highlighted the economic benefits of the ethanol-blending programme, saying it has opened an additional source of income for farmers through crops such as corn. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, farmers have earned up to Rs 45,000 crore from corn used for ethanol production, Gadkari claimed.