Tag: Food vs fuel India

ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL PROGRAMME (EBP) India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol India 2025 programme marks a major milestone in the country’s green energy transition. By achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) five years ahead of schedule, India has demonstrated strong commitment to reducing oil imports, boosting rural income, and cutting carbon emissions. The ethanol blended petrol India 2025 initiative has saved over ₹1.44 lakh crore in foreign exchange and reduced nearly 736 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Moving ahead, India aims to reach E27 blending by 2030, supported by strong policy measures and technological upgrades. Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link 📰 Why is it in News? India has successfully achieved 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol in 2025, five years ahead of its original 2030 target. This achievement marks a turning point in India’s energy transition by reducing dependency on imported crude oil, cutting carbon emissions, and boosting rural income through enhanced demand for agricultural produce. Following this success, the government has now set a new target of achieving 27% ethanol blending (E27) by 2030. 🎯 Aims and Objectives Reduce dependence on imported oil and improve national energy security. Lower greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner fuels in line with India’s Paris Agreement commitments. Enhance rural income by providing stable markets for sugarcane and grain farmers. Support circular and green economy goals by promoting sustainable biofuel production. Foster rural industrialization and job creation through ethanol distilleries and allied industries. Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link 🏛️ Institutional and Policy Framework Nodal Ministry: The programme is led by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), with support from: Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) – Ensures feedstock supply and farmer linkage. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – Oversees sustainability and environmental clearances. Policy Backbone: The National Policy on Biofuels (2018), amended in 2022, advanced the target year for E20 blending from 2030 to 2025. Government support measures include: Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme (EISS): Financial assistance to expand ethanol production capacity. GST Reduction: Tax rate on ethanol used for blending reduced from 18% to 5%. Free Movement Policy: Removal of inter-state restrictions to ensure smooth ethanol supply across India. Global Leadership: India launched the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) during its G20 Presidency in 2023, positioning itself as a global leader in the biofuel sector. The GBA aims to facilitate technology transfer, investment, and knowledge exchange among member countries to promote sustainable biofuel use worldwide. 📈 Key Achievements and Facts (as of 2025) E20 Target Achieved Early: India achieved 20% blending in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 goal — a major policy success and global benchmark. Future Goal – E27 by 2030: The next phase aims for 27% ethanol blending by 2030, aligning with India’s clean energy vision. Foreign Exchange Savings: The programme has saved over ₹1.44 lakh crore since 2014–15 by reducing crude oil imports. Carbon Reduction Impact: An estimated 736 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions have been mitigated till 2025. Feedstock Diversification: Ethanol production has diversified from being sugarcane-centric to grain-based, with grains now accounting for over 50% of total ethanol output. Vehicle Readiness: From April 2025, all Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) vehicles are mandated to be compatible with E20 fuel standards, ensuring efficient fleet transition. Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link 🧩 Generations of Biofuels (UPSC Conceptual Understanding) First Generation (1G) Biofuels: Produced from edible crops like sugarcane, corn, and starch. High carbon footprint and can impact food availability. Second Generation (2G) Biofuels: Derived from non-edible crop residues such as rice husk, bagasse, and wood chips. Environmentally cleaner and reduces agricultural waste. Third Generation (3G) Biofuels: Generated using microorganisms like algae that absorb CO₂ during production. Carbon-neutral and sustainable in the long run. Fourth Generation (4G) Biofuels: Made from genetically engineered crops and advanced bio-engineering processes. Carbon-negative, capturing more carbon than emitted. ⚙️ Key Government Initiatives and Support Measures Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (Modified): Promotes advanced (2G) biofuels and supports projects until 2028–29 to accelerate the shift to cleaner technologies. Roadmap for Ethanol Blending: A detailed strategy was released for achieving 20% blending by 2025, ensuring efficient and coordinated implementation. Tax and Financial Incentives: Reduced GST (5%) on ethanol to enhance economic feasibility for producers. Interest subvention and subsidies to attract private sector investment in new distilleries. Infrastructure and Regulatory Easing: Policies simplified to permit free inter-state movement of ethanol, removing logistical barriers. Encouragement of pipeline-based transportation and blending facilities across refineries. 🔍 Challenges and Global Comparison Water Intensity: Ethanol production from sugarcane requires up to 3000 litres of water per litre of ethanol (NITI Aayog, 2023). This poses sustainability concerns, especially in water-scarce regions. Brazil’s ethanol model demonstrates efficient water use and advanced regulation, achieving higher blending levels such as E85/E100. Food vs Fuel Dilemma: Heavy reliance on 1G feedstock (sugarcane and maize) risks food inflation and food security issues. The temporary ban in 2023 on sugarcane juice for ethanol production highlighted this trade-off. Global best practices focus on 2G and 3G biofuels derived from agricultural waste and algae to balance energy and food needs. Infrastructure and Pollution Concerns: Lack of dedicated ethanol pipelines and limited storage capacity hinder smooth supply. Ethanol plants fall under the ‘Red Category’ industries due to emissions like acetaldehyde and waste effluent discharge. Advanced economies are adopting waste-to-wealth and circular economy models, though high costs slow global expansion of 2G technologies. 🌍 Global Context and India’s Role India’s leadership in the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) strengthens its global positioning in the green energy transition. The GBA serves as a platform for policy alignment, capacity building, and investment facilitation across developing and developed nations. The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme also aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly: SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 13: Climate Action Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link 💡 Implications for India Economic: Reduction in crude import bills strengthens foreign reserves and improves the Current Account Deficit. Environmental: Lower carbon emissions help India achieve its net-zero targets by 2070. Social: Supports farmers, boosts rural income, and creates jobs in agro-industrial sectors. Technological: Encourages innovation in advanced biofuels, paving the way for energy diversification. 🚀 Way Forward Promote Advanced (2G & 3G) Technologies: Encourage public–private partnerships to accelerate commercialization of advanced biofuels. Enhance Infrastructure: Develop dedicated ethanol transport pipelines and blending depots to improve logistics efficiency. Ensure Sustainable Feedstock Use: Balance between food and fuel needs by prioritizing non-edible and waste-based feedstock. Strengthen Research and Innovation: Invest in R&D for low-water, high-yield biofuel technologies and algae-based ethanol production. Global Collaboration: Leverage the Global Biofuels Alliance for access to best practices, finance, and green technologies. 📚 UPSC Quick Recap E20 blending achieved: 2025 (five years ahead of target). Next goal: E27 blending by 2030. Foreign exchange savings: ₹1.44 lakh crore since 2014–15. CO₂ reduction: 736 lakh metric tonnes mitigated. Major schemes: PM JI-VAN Yojana, EISS, National Biofuels Policy (2018, amended 2022). Global initiative: India-led Global Biofuels Alliance (2023). Key challenge: Food vs fuel conflict and high water consumption. Join Telegram :Join our Telegram group to get instant alerts and study materials on current affairs and important topics: Link Join Instagram:Follow us on Instagram for quick facts, infographics, and updates on UPSC and government exams: Link 🏁 Conclusion The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP) exemplifies India’s integrated approach to sustainable energy, rural development, and environmental stewardship. It not only strengthens energy security and reduces the import bill but also empowers farmers, promotes technological innovation, and supports India’s long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. This programme serves as a model of sustainable policy convergence — balancing economic growth, ecological responsibility, and social welfare — a crucial case study for UPSC aspirants under Environment, Economy, and Energy Security themes.

Tag: Food vs fuel India

Ethanol Blended Petrol India 2025: Targets, Benefits & Roadmap

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