Bring back lower-ethanol petrol option: CEA

India should bring back a petrol variant with a lower ethanol blend to protect millions of older vehicles, according to a government adviser, marking one of the strongest calls yet from a senior official for greater consumer choice amid growing concerns over the country's ethanol policy.

E20 petrol, containing 20% ethanol, was rolled out last year and has been the only petrol variant available for sale at fuel stations across India since April 1 as part of efforts to cut India's dependence on imported oil, support domestic agriculture, and reduce emissions.

Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran, alongside Department of Economic Affairs Consultant Akash Poojari, said in an opinion piece that evidence did not support widespread claims that E20 damages vehicle engines, but argued that the policy could pose problems for India's large fleet of older two-wheelers.                    -PTI