**Executive Summary**
This notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas directs oil companies to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with up to twenty percent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95. This directive aims to regulate the supply and distribution of motor spirit and high-speed diesel, superseding a previous notification. The new regulations will come into effect on April 1, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit Sales:**
* Oil companies are directed to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit.
* The percentage of ethanol in the blend can be up to twenty percent.
* The blend must meet Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
* A minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 is required for the blended motor spirit.
* These regulations apply to all states and union territories.
* **Superseding Previous Notification:**
* This notification supersedes the previous notification issued on June 2, 2021 (S.O. number 2133 (E)).
* However, actions taken or omitted to be taken before this supersession remain unaffected.
* **Provisions for Special Circumstances:**
* The Central Government may, under special circumstances, permit oil companies to sell Ethanol Blended Petrol that meets Bureau of Indian Standards RON specifications for specific periods and regions.
* **Effective Date:**
* The notification will come into force on April 1, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
**Oil Companies**
* **Impact:** Oil companies will need to adjust their supply chain and blending processes to comply with the new specifications for ethanol blended motor spirit, including the requirement for a minimum RON of 95 and up to twenty percent ethanol. They will also need to adhere to any special allowances granted by the Central Government.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with the twenty percent ethanol blend limit, the minimum RON of 95, and Bureau of Indian Standards specifications for all sales from April 1, 2026. Monitor and apply for any special permissions if required for specific regions or periods.
**Consumers**
* **Impact:** Consumers will have access to Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with a standardized ethanol content and a higher minimum octane rating, potentially leading to improved engine performance and reduced emissions.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is required from consumers. They will purchase the product as it becomes available in the market.
**Central Government**
* **Impact:** The Central Government will be implementing a new regulatory framework for ethanol blended motor spirit, superseding previous directives and allowing for flexibility in special circumstances.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the implementation of the notification, process any requests for special circumstances, and ensure compliance by oil companies.
Key Entities Referenced
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The primary law granting the powers to regulate essential commodities, which is being exercised by this notification.
Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices), Order, 2005: The specific order issued under the Essential Commodities Act that contains the paragraph being referenced for the sale of motor spirit.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The governmental ministry issuing the notification, making it the primary regulatory body for this policy.
Bureau of Indian Standards: The standards body whose specifications for ethanol blended motor spirit and RON are being mandated.
Rohit Mathur: The Joint Secretary who has signed the notification, indicating their role in its issuance and enforcement.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-18022026-270265
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D8H0x2x2x0 26-270265
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 820] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, फरवरी 17, 2026/माघ 28, 1947
No. 820] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026/MAGHA 28, 1947
पट्रे ोलियम एव ंप्राकृलिक गसै मत्रं ािय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 17 फरवरी, 2026
का.आ. 860(अ).— आवश्यक वस्िु अलिलियम, 1955 (1955 का 10) की िारा 3 के साथ पठिि मोटर लस्पठरट
और उच्च वेग डीजि (प्रदाय और लविरण का लवलियमि और अिाचार लिवारण) आदशे , 2005 के अिच्ु छेद 6 द्वारा प्रदत्त
शलियों का प्रयोग करि े हुए, और भारि के राजपत्र, असािारण भाग-II, खंड 3, उप-खडं (ii) म ें का.ज्ञा. संख्या 2133
(अ), ददिांक 2 जिू , 2021 द्वारा प्रकालशि भारि सरकार, पेट्रोलियम और प्राकृलिक गैस मंत्रािय की अलिसूचिा का
अलिक्रमण करिे हुए, ऐस े अलिक्रमण स े पहिे काठरि अथवा अकाठरि कायों के लसवाय, केंद्रीय सरकार एिद्द्वारा लिदशे दिे ी
ह ै दक िेि कंपलियां राज्यों और केंद्र शालसि प्रदेशों म ें भारिीय मािक ब्यूरो के लवलिर्दिष्टों और 95 का न्यूििम अिुसंिाि
ऑक्टेि संख्या (आरओएि) के अिुसार बीस प्रलिशि िक एथिे ॉि युि एथेिॉि लमलिि मोटर लस्पठरट का लवक्रय कर सकेंगी:
बशिे दक केंद्र सरकार लवशेष पठरलस्थलियों म,ें ििे कंपलियों को भारिीय मािक ब्यूरो के अिुसार आरओएि
लवलिर्दिष्टों को पूरा करिे वािी एथेिॉि लमलिि पेट्रोि को लवलिर्दिष्ट अवलि और क्षेत्रों हिे ु लवक्रय की अिुमलि द ेसकिी ह।ै
2. यह अलिसूचिा 1 अप्रिै , 2026 स ेप्रवृत्त होगी।
[फा. स.ं पी-13032(17)/5/2024-सीसी-भाग(1) (ई-55075)]
रोलहि माथुर, संयुि सलचव
1191 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 17th February, 2026
S.O. 860(E).—In exercise of powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of
1955) read with paragraph 6 of Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and
Prevention of Malpractices), Order, 2005, and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India, Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii) vide
S.O. number 2133 (E), dated the 2nd June, 2021, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such
supersession, the Central Government hereby directs that the oil companies shall sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with
percentage of Ethanol up to twenty per cent as per the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications and having minimum
Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, in the States and the Union territories:
Provided that the Central Government may, in special circumstances, allow the oil companies to sell Ethanol
Blended Petrol meeting the RON specifications as per Bureau of Indian Standards, for specified period and regions.
2. This notification shall come into force on the 1st April, 2026.
[F. No. P-13032(17)/5/2024-CC-Part(1) (E-55075)]
ROHIT MATHUR, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.