Centre Rejects Karnataka’s E20 Petrol Claims, Flags Sampling Errors; Rahul Gandhi Says ‘E20 Has Become 420’

November 7, 2026

New Delhi: The Centre has dismissed allegations by the Karnataka government of excessive ethanol levels in petrol supplied by different petrol pumps in the state. Further, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas opened up an issue related to ‘seeming unscientific procedures’.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised questions about the quality of petrol after making claim that lab tests showed samples taken from Karnataka had excessive amounts of ethanol.

E20 बना 420 – जनता की गाड़ी से पेट्रोल चोरी!

मोदी सरकार कहती है – पेट्रोल में 20% एथेनॉल है। कर्नाटक सरकार ने 7 ज़िलों से पेट्रोल के सैंपल लेकर मान्यता प्राप्त लैब में जाँच करवाई।

नतीजा देखिए
– 14 में से 11 सैंपल में 20% से ज़्यादा एथेनॉल
– IOCL में 31.2%, HPCL में 30.5%
– IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, Nayara, Shell – सरकारी हों या प्राइवेट – सब सीमा से ऊपर
– और कंपनियों की अपनी लैब ने एथेनॉल की मात्रा रिपोर्ट में लिखी ही नहीं

मतलब आप पैसा महंगे पेट्रोल का दे रहे हैं, टंकी में एथेनॉल भरा जा रहा है। नुकसान किसका? आपका।

आपकी गाड़ी इतना एथेनॉल पचाने के लिए बनी ही नहीं – मतलब, घटता माइलेज, बार-बार मैकेनिक। शौक से ली गई गाड़ी की बर्बादी।

और पंप पर लिखा तक नहीं कि टंकी में क्या डाला जा रहा है – चुनने का कोई विकल्प नहीं।

मोदी जी, बताइए – देश की टंकी में क्या भरा जा रहा है? पेट्रोल में असल में कितना एथेनॉल है? 20% से ज़्यादा मिलावट करने वाली कंपनियों पर कार्रवाई कब होगी?

और डिबेट की चुनौती अब भी खड़ी है। ये मुद्दा भी जोड़ लेंगे – आपकी नीतियों से असल में फ़ायदा किसे हो रहा है?

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 7, 2026

In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “E20 Has Become 420” This will cause issues to our vehicles but it will impact mileage which consistant visits to garage, he said on the X social media platform.

Centre Says E20 Provided By IOCL, BPCL And HPCL Across Country Abides By BIS Standards

Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation provide E20 petrol that conforms to bureau of Indian Standards under IS 17021 across the globe, including Karnataka, the ministry said in an official release on Saturday.

“The above three Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has further stated that tests carried out using scientific/statutory procedures do not substantiate these allegations. However, scientific specimens collection IS questioned by the companies,” it said.

Under petrol testing, six samples are to be taken with two samples given to the dealer on receipt, two samples kept with the oil company and concerned department and remaining samples be sent to the lab specified under Schedule III of Control Order or notified in the Official Gazette,

‘Specimen tags’ must be signed jointly and within the defined time frame results must be reported back to the dealer and oil company.

Testing undertaken during Septemper 2026, involved specimens being sent to specific OMC labs via the State Level Coordinator and subjected to quality tests as defined in MDG 2024.

The October specimens however, supposedly not been collected by OMCs. They further said they did not see specimens of the samples retained, detailed information against each outlet and reports from the lab.

Rahul Gandhi Questions Quality Of Petrol, Claims Lab Tests Show Excessive Ethanol

Opposition leader in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed on Saturday that some petrol companies were providing petrol with excessive ethanol levels.

After lab tests undertaken on samples taken from seven districts in Karnataka, Gandhi has claimed 11 out of 14 samples exceeded the 20% level.

Test results from IOCL and HPCL show excessive amounts of ethanol levels (31.2%, 30.5%) respectively, he said on X.

“You didn’t buy a car that can handle that high of ethanol. Your car IS getting ruined because you bought it with so much enthusiasm but your mileage IS getting affected and you are running to the garage again and again.”

Karnataka Government Alleges Major OMCs Providing Petrol With Excessive Ethanol Levels, Calls For Action

The Karnataka government alleged on Friday that major OMCs were providing petrol with excessive ethanol. Laboratory reports showed levels as high as 31.2%. They called for action to be taken.

“We made these allegations based on tests undertaken on specimens taken from different areas (Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mangaluru, Tumakuru),” Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs And Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad told reporters during a press conference.

Ethanol levels were found to be 20.6% in Nayara petrol, 19.9% in BPCL, 19.2% in Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and 13.5% in Shell in other specimens in the Motor Spirit (MS) category.

“Ethanol levels were found to be excessive in samples taken from major fuel companies. IOCL and HPCL had 31.2% and 30.5% respectively,” he added.

However the Centre has challenged these claims due to concerns around the procedures undertaken during the October specimens. The allegations against the quality of the E20 petrol have now come under question.