**Executive Summary**
This notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, dated February 17, 2026, supersedes a previous notification from June 2, 2021, concerning Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit. It directs oil companies to sell ethanol-blended motor spirit with up to 20% ethanol. The notification is effective from April 1, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit (EBMS) Sales:**
* Oil companies are directed to sell EBMS with up to 20% ethanol.
* The EBMS must meet the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
* The EBMS must have a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95.
* **Special Circumstances:**
* The Central Government may allow oil companies to sell EBMS meeting RON specifications as per Bureau of Indian Standards.
* This allowance can be for specified periods and regions.
* **Effective Date:**
* The notification comes into force on April 1, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Oil Companies**
* **Impact:** Oil companies are now required to sell EBMS with up to 20% ethanol, adhering to the specified standards.
* **Action Required:** Oil companies must ensure their EBMS sales comply with the new regulations, including the ethanol percentage and RON specifications, from April 1, 2026.
**Stakeholder: States and Union Territories**
* **Impact:** States and Union Territories will have EBMS available for sale, which may affect fuel supply and distribution infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Ensure relevant infrastructure is updated to accommodate EBMS and work with oil companies to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Empowers the government to regulate the supply and distribution of essential commodities.
Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005: Regulates the supply, distribution, and prevention of malpractices related to motor spirit and high-speed diesel.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The central ministry responsible for policies related to petroleum and natural gas.
Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit: A blend of motor spirit (petrol) with ethanol, now mandated for sale with up to 20% ethanol content.
Bureau of Indian Standards: Sets the specifications for Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit that Oil companies must comply with.
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.