‘Sensationalism over governance’: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi over Karnataka’s ethanol blending claims

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said that none of the labs which tested samples of ethanol-blended petrol in Karnataka were part of the approved schedule 3 labs that are notified in the gazette.  | Photo Credit: ANI

Amid the controversy over reported higher ethanol blending in petrol samples collected in Karnataka, Union Minister for Food Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) claimed that all 893 samples tested across 27 States and Union Territories complied with the prescribed 19–21% range.

“More importantly, all 56 samples tested in Karnataka by the OMCs were compliant, recording 19–20%, with an average of 19.30%,” he claimed on social media platform X.

He criticised the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs Minister Rizwan Arshad’s press conference on ethanol blending and called it a “classic case of choosing sensationalism over responsible governance.”

Refusing the claims made by Mr. Arshad about ethanol blend of up to 31% found in samples collected in Karnataka, Mr. Joshi wrote, “The Karnataka certificates state only “Ethanol % by Gas Chromatography. They do not mention the test method, calibration, dilution or reference sample. The samples showing 26–31% ethanol content in Karnataka recorded densities of just 0.742–0.749 g/cc. In contrast, the samples tested by Oil Marketing Companies, which confirmed compliant E20 petrol, recorded higher densities of 0.752–0.760 g/cc. With more than 20% ethanol content, the density should have been much higher than the E20 Petrol. However, it was not,” he said.

He further stated that none of the labs which tested these samples were part of the approved schedule 3 labs that are notified in the gazette. However, Mr. Arshad had clarified on October 9 that the labs are accredited by The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The Union Minister questioned the credibility of the measurement. “The deficiencies in its sampling procedure, retention samples and laboratory certification raise serious questions about the credibility of the measurement,” he wrote.

“UPA proposed it”

He justified the blending of ethanol in petrol by referring to the statement made by former Petroleum Minister, Mani Shankar Iyer in 2005 during the UPA government in the Centre.

He wrote, “But there is a much bigger question the Karnataka Government needs to answer. Is the Congress Government in Karnataka now opposed to the very ethanol programme that was started by them. In fact, in 2005, the then Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Iyer had said that they want to increase ethanol blending, if ethanol availability improves. Now, the same congress is opposing it.”

Benefit to farmers

Elaborating on the monetary benefits earned by sugarcane farmers across India, the Union minister, wrote, “Since 2014–15, the Ethanol blended Petrol programme has facilitated over ₹1.66 lakh crore in payments to farmers. It has created an additional market for sugarcane, improved the liquidity of sugar mills and helped ensure timely payment of sugarcane dues. Nearly 97% of sugarcane dues for the 2025–26 season had already been paid as of August 20, 2026.”

Upping his ante, the minister added that Karnataka alone accounted for 11.92 lakh metric tonnes as of August 31, 2026, of the total 30 lakh metric tonnes of sugar diverted for ethanol across India — nearly 40% of the national diversion.

“In 2025–26, Karnataka distilleries were allocated 165.89 crore litres of ethanol, including 97.54 crore litres from sugarcane-based feedstocks,” he wrote.

Mr. Joshi questioned the intention behind the State Government’s claim on ethanol blending. “If the Karnataka Government believes ethanol blending is detrimental to farmers, why does it seek greater ethanol allocation for its sugar industry? The ethanol programme has also helped India save over ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substitute approximately 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil imports and reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 952 lakh metric tonnes,” he claimed.

Published - November 10, 2026 02:13 pm IST