The Union government has proposed widening the official definition of fuel under motor vehicle regulations to include higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, signalling a stronger push toward cleaner and domestically produced energy sources. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification seeking amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, aimed at accommodating new fuel technologies and compatible vehicles.
Under the proposal, vehicles using ethanol blends of up to 100 per cent (E100) and 85 per cent (E85), along with biodiesel blends up to 100 per cent (B100), would be formally recognised within the regulatory framework. The draft also revises the definition of hydrogen-CNG blends, reflecting the government’s broader effort to modernise fuel standards as India diversifies beyond conventional petrol and diesel.
The move builds on earlier steps to increase ethanol adoption in the transport sector. Cars manufactured after April 2023 are already considered E20-compliant, meaning they can run on petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol. Many newer vehicles are also technically capable of handling blends up to 30 per cent, easing the transition toward higher ethanol usage over time.
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The ministry has also proposed increasing the gross vehicle weight threshold to 3,500 kilograms from the current 3,000 kilograms. This change could affect classification norms for certain categories of vehicles and may support the growing use of electric, alternative-fuel and commercial vehicles that often carry heavier battery packs or fuel systems.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said India should eventually aspire to achieve 100 per cent ethanol blending, citing energy security concerns and the need for self-reliance amid geopolitical disruptions in West Asia. Countries such as Brazil, which has extensive experience with ethanol-based fuel systems, are often cited as examples of how large-scale biofuel adoption can be implemented.
The proposal comes soon after the Centre permitted ethanol blending in aviation turbine fuel, another step intended to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and encourage sustainable fuels. India has set targets for sustainable aviation fuel blending of 1 per cent by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030. Together, these measures underline a coordinated strategy to expand biofuel use across road and air transport sectors.
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