Parliament Question: Sustainability and Food Security in Ethanol Blending

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2683 ANSWERED ON – 16/03/2026 SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY IN ETHANOL BLENDING 2683. SHRI SAKET GOKHALE: Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has performed a Life-Cycle Water Footprint Analysis for the E20 (20 per cent ethanol blending) mandate, considering the high water intensity of sugarcane and rice used for feedstock; (b) the steps taken to address the Food vs Fuel conflict in years of sub-normal monsoons, specifically regarding the diversion of food-grade grains for ethanol production; and (c) whether Government is considering a Dynamic Blending Cap that adjusts based on annual crop yields to prevent artificial shortages in the domestic food market? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a) : An expert committee was constituted in 2024 by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to examine the water consumption of various ethanol feedstock crops. The Report has found that water requirement per litre of Ethanol is maximum for Rice followed by Maize and Sugarcane. (b): The National Policy on Biofuels promotes use of, inter-alia, damaged food grains like broken rice, foodgrains unfit for human consumption, surplus food grains declared by National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC), and agricultural residues such as rice straw, cotton stalk, corn cobs, sawdust, and bagasse for ethanol production. Any diversion of foodgrains for ethanol production during a year is carefully calibrated in consultation with relevant stakeholders, taking into consideration various factors including sub-normal monsoon periods. Additionally, Government is also implementing Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana to provide financial assistance for setting up advanced biofuel projects, including projects for 2G ethanol, using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstocks. (c): At present, there is no policy such as Dynamic Blending Cap in ethanol blending programme. *****