Three public sector oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) — have stated that E20 petrol supplied by them across the country complies with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for ethanol-blended motor gasoline.
The clarification follows a press release issued by the Karnataka Government's Department of Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, which alleged that petrol sold at certain retail outlets in the state contained between 26 and 31 per cent ethanol.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL reaffirmed compliance with BIS specifications for E20 petrol.
A total of 893 samples were tested across 27 States and Union Territories.
All 893 samples contained ethanol within the prescribed 19–21 per cent range.
All 56 Karnataka samples recorded ethanol content between 19 and 20 per cent.
Karnataka had alleged ethanol levels of 26–31 per cent at certain retail outlets.
The companies questioned the state's testing methodology and sought joint independent testing.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the three companies disputed the Karnataka findings, raising concerns about the sampling procedures and testing methodology used during the state's October 2026 exercise. They stated that the reported ethanol levels could not be independently validated without the prescribed technical documentation and testing details.
According to the Ministry, 893 E20 petrol samples were tested under the Oil Marketing Companies and Centre for High Technology (CHT) Quality Coordination Cell exercise. The samples were collected from Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL depots and retail outlets across 27 States and Union Territories.
The testing covered 330 samples from Indian Oil, 280 from BPCL and 283 from HPCL. All 893 samples were found to contain ethanol within the prescribed range of 19–21 per cent under IS 17021, the applicable BIS specification.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The issue concerns fuel quality, consumer confidence and compliance with India's ethanol-blending standards. Transparent and independently verifiable testing is important to establish the reasons behind the differing findings and ensure that petrol supplied to consumers meets prescribed specifications.
In Karnataka, all 56 samples tested across different locations and involving the three oil companies also met the prescribed specifications. Their ethanol content ranged between 19 and 20 per cent, with an average of 19.30 per cent.
The companies also questioned the technical details contained in the laboratory certificates cited by the Karnataka Government. They said the certificates did not specify the applicable standard testing method, prescribed dilution procedure or reference material required to independently validate the reported ethanol levels.
The oil marketing companies further stated that they had not received the corresponding retained samples, complete outlet-wise details or laboratory reports from the October exercise. They sought the relevant documentation and access to retained samples for independent testing at an authorised laboratory.
The companies have expressed willingness to participate in joint sampling and testing with Karnataka Government representatives under the prescribed procedures.
The Ministry said the findings from the nationwide quality-monitoring exercise were inconsistent with the higher ethanol levels cited in Karnataka's statement. It emphasised the need for transparent, technically sound and jointly verifiable testing to resolve the differences.
