समाचार Samāchār · Business · 7 November 2026

Karnataka finds 31% ethanol in petrol. Oil companies say 19%. One joint test can settle it

Karnataka says some petrol samples carry up to 31.2% ethanol. Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL say 893 samples across India met the 20% standard and ask for joint testing.

Two sets of test results now describe the same petrol. Karnataka says some of it carries up to 31.2% ethanol. The oil companies say every sample they checked sat between 19% and 21%. The gap will not close with louder statements. It closes with one test that both sides witness and both sides sign.

Karnataka’s Food and Civil Supplies minister Rizwan Arshad released the findings on Friday 6 November. The state drew 63 samples in October from outlets in seven districts, including Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Tumakuru. The highest readings were 31.2% in an Indian Oil sample and 30.5% in an HPCL sample. The state asked the Centre to disclose the actual blend supplied, act against companies found over-blending, set up consumer compensation and make pumps display the ethanol share. It puts the cost to motorists at about ₹1.01 lakh crore a year in lost mileage and extra servicing.

Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL replied the same day in a joint statement. They said 893 samples from depots and outlets in 27 states and Union territories, tested under the petroleum ministry’s Centre for High Technology, met the BIS standard IS 17021. Their 56 Karnataka samples ranged from 19% to 20%, an average of 19.30%. They said their representatives were not present when the state sampled. They have not received the retained samples or full lab reports. They have asked for joint sampling and an independent test at an authorised laboratory.

Ethanol blending is worth protecting. The companies say it has saved more than ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange since 2014-15. It sends fuel money to Indian farms instead of oil exporters. A programme of that size runs on trust at the nozzle. Credit to the state for testing and to the companies for answering within hours. The next step is a joint test, a published result and the blend shown at every pump.

What a founder takes from it: Policy at population scale needs proof the consumer can see. When two labs disagree, the answer is a shared test and a label on the pump. Transparency costs less than a dispute.