Gandhi questions Karnataka tests alleging excess ethanol in petrol

Rahul Gandhi has questioned the ethanol content of petrol after Karnataka officials said laboratory tests found that 11 of 14 samples collected across seven districts exceeded the 20% limit associated with E20 fuel. Three public-sector oil companies disputed the findings, saying their petrol complies with the applicable Indian standard and that the testing process was not adequately documented.

Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad said samples were collected in Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru and Tumakuru. He said tests by Shriram Research Institute in Bengaluru recorded ethanol levels of 31.2% in a sample associated with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and 30.5% in one associated with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

Gandhi cited the state’s results in a post on X, saying 11 of the 14 samples contained more than 20% ethanol. He asked the central government to disclose the actual ethanol content in fuel sold across the country and questioned whether fuel stations should identify the blend’s contents. He also alleged that higher ethanol concentrations could reduce...