The Office of the Attorney General (AG) of India refuted media reports that claimed the Centre referred to its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, including the 20 per cent ethanol blending (E20) initiative, as an “ongoing experiment” before the Supreme Court. The AG’s office clarified that certain reports had inaccurately attributed statements to Attorney General R. Venkataramani during a hearing related to ethanol allocation.
The AG’s office emphasized that the reports suggesting the Government’s E20 Programme was an experiment were entirely false and did not align with the actual submissions made in court. It was explicitly stated that there was no mention of the E20 programme being an experiment during the proceedings.
During the hearing, AG Venkataramani informed the Supreme Court about similar cases in different High Courts concerning ethanol allocation to dedicated plants. The AG’s office highlighted the importance of consolidating these cases to ensure a swift resolution and uninterrupted ethanol supplies for the national Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme.
The Supreme Court directed the filing of transfer petitions and maintained the status quo on ethanol allocation for the current Ethanol Supply Year 2025–26, following BPCL’s appeal against a Karnataka High Court ruling. The AG’s Office stressed the need for accurate reporting, especially in cases involving significant national policies.
