**Executive Summary**
This document, a notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, supersedes previous directives regarding the sale of ethanol-blended motor spirit. It mandates oil companies to sell ethanol-blended motor spirit with up to twenty percent ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95, effective from April 1, 2026. The Central Government retains the discretion to allow sales under specific circumstances.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Product Specification:** Oil companies are directed to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with up to twenty percent ethanol content.
* **Quality Standards:** The ethanol-blended motor spirit must meet the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
* **Minimum Octane Rating:** A minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 is mandated for the ethanol-blended motor spirit.
* **Applicability:** These regulations apply to the sale of the specified motor spirit in all States and Union Territories.
* **Supersession of Previous Notification:** This notification supersedes the previous notification (S.O. number 2133 (E), dated June 2, 2021), except for actions taken or omitted before this date.
* **Special Circumstances Provision:** The Central Government may, under special circumstances, permit oil companies to sell ethanol-blended petrol that meets RON specifications as per the Bureau of Indian Standards for specified periods and regions.
* **Effective Date:** This notification comes into force on April 1, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
**Oil Companies**
* **Impact:** Oil companies must ensure their ethanol-blended motor spirit products meet the new twenty percent ethanol limit and the minimum 95 RON requirement. They need to adjust their supply chain and blending processes accordingly.
* **Action Required:** Comply with the updated specifications for ethanol-blended motor spirit and ensure adherence to the effective date of April 1, 2026.
**Consumers**
* **Impact:** Consumers will have access to ethanol-blended motor spirit with potentially improved octane ratings, which could enhance engine performance.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from consumers. They will be purchasing the compliant product as of April 1, 2026.
**Government (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is establishing a new standard for ethanol-blended motor spirit, aiming to promote renewable energy integration and potentially improve fuel quality.
* **Action Required:** Monitor compliance by oil companies and exercise discretion in granting special permissions if needed.
Key Entities Referenced
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The primary law empowering the regulation of essential commodities, including fuel.
Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices), Order, 2005: Specific order under the Essential Commodities Act that governs the sale and distribution of motor fuels.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The government ministry issuing the notification and responsible for the petroleum sector.
Bureau of Indian Standards: The standards body whose specifications for ethanol blending and RON are referenced.
Rohit Mathur: The Joint Secretary who signed the notification.
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.