The Union government’s ethanol blending policy came under scrutiny after reports claimed that the Attorney General told the Supreme Court that India’s 20% Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20) Programme was “still an ongoing experiment” whose results would become clear by next year.
The remarks were reported during a June 30 hearing of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (BPCL) Special Leave Petition challenging a Karnataka High Court order on ethanol allocation for the 2025–26 Ethanol Supply Year (ESY).
Later the same day, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued an official clarification, rejecting the reports as “completely false” and stating that they did not accurately reflect the submissions made before the apex court.
Claim
The Union government informed the Supreme Court that the E20 Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is “still an ongoing experiment” and that the policy’s impact would become clearer next year.
Fact
The claim is misleading.
On June 30, 2026, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued an official clarification stating that media reports attributing such remarks to the Attorney General were “completely false” and did not reflect the actual submissions made before the Supreme Court.
According to the ministry, the hearing arose from BPCL’s Special Leave Petition challenging a Karnataka High Court order related to ethanol allocation for the 2025–26 Ethanol Supply Year.
During the proceedings, the Attorney General informed the Court that similar disputes involving Dedicated Ethanol Plants are pending before various High Courts and that Transfer Petitions would be filed so the Supreme Court could hear all related matters together.
The Centre argued that this would help avoid conflicting judicial decisions and ensure uninterrupted ethanol supplies to Oil Marketing Companies under the national Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme.
The ministry further stated that the Supreme Court observed that the proposed Transfer Petitions may be filed and that status quo should be maintained regarding ethanol allocation for the current Ethanol Supply Year (2025–26) in the present matter.
Most importantly, the government clarified that at no stage during the hearing did the Attorney General describe either the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme or the E20 blending programme as an “experiment.” It urged media organisations to report judicial proceedings accurately, particularly when they concern significant national policy initiatives.
Notably, earlier media reports had quoted the Attorney General as saying that the E20 programme was “an ongoing experiment” whose results would become evident by next year. The Ministry of Law and Justice has since formally denied that this statement was ever made before the Supreme Court.
Top Three Sources Attributing the Fact
- Press Information Bureau (PIB): Ministry of Law and Justice’s official clarification stating that reports claiming the Attorney General described the E20 programme as an “experiment” are “completely false” and do not reflect the submissions made before the Supreme Court.
- Moneycontrol: Reported the government’s clarification explaining that the Attorney General never referred to the E20 or Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme as an “experiment” and that the submissions were limited to transfer petitions and ensuring continuity of ethanol supplies.
- The Times of India: Earlier reported that the Attorney General described the E20 programme as an “ongoing experiment.” This report formed the basis of the claim that was subsequently disputed by the government’s official clarification.
Conclusion
Verdict: Misleading Content
The claim that the Union government told the Supreme Court the E20 Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme is an “ongoing experiment” is misleading. While several media outlets reported that such a statement was made during the court proceedings, the Ministry of Law and Justice has officially denied the claim, stating that the Attorney General never used the term “experiment.”
According to the government’s clarification, the submissions before the Supreme Court were limited to seeking the transfer of similar ethanol allocation cases to the apex court and ensuring uninterrupted ethanol supplies under the national Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme. In the absence of any official court record confirming the reported remark, the government’s clarification remains the authoritative position on the matter.
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