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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. - 4131
ANSWERED ON – 30/03/2026
FUEL ADULTERATION DETECTED IN PETROL AND DIESEL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY
4131 SHRI A. D. SINGH:
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) the extent of fuel adulteration detected in petrol and diesel across the country in
recent years;
(b) the measures being taken to prevent adulteration, including monitoring mechanisms,
quality checks and penalties for offenders;
(c) the role of technology such as fuel quality sensors and digital tracking in curbing
adulteration;
(d) the impact of these measures on consumer protection and environmental safety; and
(e) the details of coordination between Government, oil marketing companies and law
enforcement agencies to ensure fuel quality?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) to (e) Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have formulated and implemented
Marketing Discipline Guidelines (MDG) for checking irregularities or malpractices at Retail
Outlet (RO) Dealerships to ensure quality and quantity of fuel at retail outlets. Action is taken in
case of established irregularities against erring dealers as per MDG guidelines and the
Dealership agreement. MDG guidelines are available at website: https://iocl.com/marketing-
discipline-guidelines.
The Central Government has also issued the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of
Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005 under Essential Commodities
Act, 1955 which provides for punitive action against malpractices such as adulteration of
petroleum products. Further, in June, 2022, the Government has extended the scope of
Universal Service Obligations (USOs) to all retail outlets including remote area retail outlets.
USOs have been prescribed so that authorized entities provide quality and uninterrupted fuel
supply services to the consumers.
OMCs have a system in place to check various types of malpractices and irregularities at their
ROs. The important initiatives taken in this regard, inter alia, include:(i) Availability of filter paper, calibrated density equipment (hydrometer /
thermometer) & 5-liter calibrated measure for quality checks and delivery of
correct quantity of MS/HSD.
(ii) Regular/ Surprise inspections at Retail Outlets by OMCs’ Field Officers/
Senior Officers/ Quality Reassurance Cell (QRC) teams throughout the
country. In case of irregularities, action is taken as per the MDG and
Dealership Agreement.
(iii) Surprise inspections by OMC Mobile labs, wherein samples of petrol and
diesel from Retail Outlets are drawn and tested.
(iv) Dispensing units are periodically calibrated and sealed by the Weights and
Measure Department to ensure correct quantity and to avoid the tampering of
the dispensing units.
(v) Random sampling from Retail Outlets for testing at authorized laboratories.
(vi) Installation of GPS to monitor movement of Tank Trucks carrying MS/ HSD.
(vii) Sealing of Tank trucks before leaving Company premises to protect against
pilferage / adulteration enroute. Tamper proof locking system has been
introduced in tank trucks delivering petrol / diesel at Retail Outlets. A 3-tier
sampling system is followed to help ascertain the point where adulteration
could have taken place.
(viii) Automation of all active Retail Outlets to capture the data for better
monitoring of RO operations.
Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have terminated 21 Retail outlet dealerships
against established cases of adulteration during last five years and current financial year{2020-
21 to 2025-26 (Till February,2026)}.
To prevent manual manipulation of Fuel Dispensers (DUs), OMCs install state of art DUs
with high accuracy metering units as per Legal Metrology Rules, and the DUs have latest
security features including audit trails which help in ensuring correct quantity is dispensed
from the DU and is available for inspection. Further, the Retail Outlets are equipped with
Auto Tank Gauge systems (ATG) which is integrated with Automation. In case of water
seepage into tanks, the ATG detects the water presence upto defined threshold level and
activate interlock which stops all sales from that tank. This ensures water free product goes
into customers' fuel tanks.
OMCs have introduced Tamper proof Electro-Mechanical locks for sealing Tank Trucks (TT)
delivering MS/HSD from Depots to Retail outlets. Besides, Vehicle Tracking System (VTS)
is mounted on the Tank Trucks. The Electro-Mechanical Locks fitted on the TTs can be
opened only in the designated geofenced areas, thereby ensuring digital security of the
product.The latitude and longitude along with geofenced area of suspected points are identified
through VTS system. TT movements are continuously monitored by OMCs through VTS, to
detect any stoppages at such locations, and if detected, the VTS data is then scrutinized by the
concerned Location and action is taken against the TT/Transporter as per the Industry
Transport Discipline Guidelines.
The Monitoring mechanisms in place along with Automation systems and modern updated
DUs ensure that customers get correct Quality / Quantity product at Retail Outlets. Tank
truck decantation through cam lock couplings, modernized dispensing units and Vapour
Recovery Systems installed at eligible outlets in accordancewith Central Pollution Control
Board (CBCB) guidelines ensure there are no spillages& leakages and that vapour emission
is minimised, thereby reducing air pollution. These measures significantly enhance
environmental safety at retail outlets.
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