**Executive Summary**
This notification, effective from April 1, 2026, directs oil companies to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with up to 20% ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95. This supersedes a previous notification dated June 2, 2021. Special circumstances may allow for deviations from these specifications for specified periods and regions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Mandated Ethanol Blending:** Oil companies are directed to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with a percentage of ethanol up to twenty percent.
* **Quality Standards:** The blended motor spirit must adhere to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
* **Minimum Research Octane Number (RON):** The blended motor spirit must have a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95.
* **Geographic Applicability:** These directives apply to all States and Union Territories.
* **Superseding Notification:** This notification supersedes the Government of India's notification published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii) vide S.O. number 2133 (E), dated June 2, 2021, with respect to things done or omitted to be done before this supersession.
* **Provision 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:** This notification comes into force on April 1, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Oil Companies**
* **Impact:** Required to adjust their blending processes and supply chains to meet the new ethanol content and minimum RON specifications. They must ensure compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards.
* **Action Required:** Implement the sale of Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit as per the specified percentages and RON, and adhere to any special provisions granted by the Central Government.
* **Consumers**
* **Impact:** Will have access to Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with a higher minimum RON, potentially leading to improved engine performance.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from consumers, other than purchasing the available fuel.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for oversight and enforcement of the notification, and for considering requests for special circumstances.
* **Action Required:** Monitor compliance by oil companies and process any applications for exemptions or special provisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The primary law empowering the regulation of the supply and distribution of essential commodities, including motor spirit and diesel.
Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005: A specific order under the Essential Commodities Act that details regulations for motor spirit and diesel.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The government ministry issuing the notification and responsible for the petroleum sector.
Bureau of Indian Standards: The standards-setting body whose specifications for ethanol blending and Research Octane Number are referenced.
Rohit Mathur: The Joint Secretary who signed the notification, indicating his role in the policy's issuance.
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.