**Executive Summary**
This notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, effective from April 1, 2026, mandates oil companies to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with up to 20% ethanol and a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95. It supersedes a previous notification from June 2, 2021, and allows for exceptions under special circumstances.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit Sales**
* Oil companies are directed to sell Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit.
* The ethanol content can be up to twenty percent.
* The motor spirit must conform to Bureau of Indian Standards specifications.
* A minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 is required.
* This applies to all States and Union territories.
**Superseding Notification and Exceptions**
* This notification supersedes the previous notification issued via S.O. number 2133 (E) dated June 2, 2021.
* Exceptions to things done or omitted before this supersession are preserved.
* The Central Government may, under special circumstances, permit oil companies to sell Ethanol Blended Petrol meeting RON specifications as per Bureau of Indian Standards for specific periods and regions.
**Effective Date**
* This notification comes into force on April 1, 2026.
**Impact Analysis**
**Oil Companies**
* **Impact:** Must comply with the new specifications for ethanol blending and RON for motor spirit sales. They may need to adjust their supply chain and product formulations.
* **Action Required:** Ensure Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit sold meets the stipulated twenty percent ethanol limit, Bureau of Indian Standards specifications, and a minimum RON of 95 from April 1, 2026. Seek prior approval for any deviations under special circumstances.
**Consumers**
* **Impact:** Will have access to Ethanol Blended Motor Spirit with a higher octane rating (minimum 95 RON) and potentially up to 20% ethanol content, which may affect fuel efficiency and engine performance depending on the vehicle.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the new fuel blend and its specifications.
**Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)**
* **Impact:** Their specifications for ethanol blending and RON will be directly enforced for motor spirit sales.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide and maintain the relevant standards for ethanol blended fuels.
**Central Government (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)**
* **Impact:** Will oversee the implementation of the new directive and may grant exemptions in special circumstances.
* **Action Required:** Monitor compliance, address any issues, and consider requests for special exemptions.
Key Entities Referenced
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The primary law under which the notification is issued, granting powers for regulation.
Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply and Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices), Order, 2005: A specific order issued under the Essential Commodities Act, providing the framework for regulating motor spirit and diesel.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The government ministry issuing the notification, responsible for petroleum and natural gas sector.
Bureau of Indian Standards: The standards body whose specifications are referenced for ethanol blended motor spirit.
Rohit Mathur: Joint Secretary who has 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.