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E20 petrol standards questioned after Karnataka ethanol finding; PIB says samples met norms
बातमीत का?
Karnataka says 31% ethanol, PIB says E20 passed: the biofuel blending basics GS3 tests
Karnataka's claim of 31% ethanol in fuel was refuted by oil companies; PIB said E20 samples from 27 States/UTs met standards.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2004; GS-3 core; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 मिनिटे
E20 petrol is petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol by volume, a step in India's ethanol blending programme.
Karnataka claimed that ethanol levels in fuel it tested had reached 31 per cent, which the oil marketing companies refuted and asked for details of the testing procedure.
A PIB release stated that E20 petrol supplied by public sector marketing companies met the prescribed quality standards, based on samples drawn from 27 States and Union Territories.
स्रोत: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
महत्त्वाची तथ्ये
Remember these
- E20 petrol = petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol by volume.
- Karnataka claimed ethanol levels in tested fuel had reached 31 per cent; oil marketing companies refuted it and sought details of the test procedure.
- PIB: E20 petrol from public sector marketing companies met prescribed quality standards, based on samples from 27 States and UTs.
- E20 is a step in India's ethanol blending programme, earlier stage being E10.
- National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 is the policy framework for ethanol blending.
पूर्व · मुख्य
How the exam will ask it
पूर्व
- E20 petrol contains 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol by volume.
- Ethanol blending in petrol is promoted under India's National Policy on Biofuels, 2018.
- Ethanol used for blending can be produced from sugarcane-based feedstocks and other biomass, and it reduces dependence on imported crude oil.
मुख्य
GS Paper 3 (Energy, Biofuels, Environment). Issue: a State's claim of 31% ethanol versus the Centre's finding that E20 samples met norms; policy: ethanol blending programme and fuel quality standards; implication: consumer trust, vehicle compatibility, import savings and emissions; way forward: transparent, independently verifiable testing protocols and Centre-State coordination.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Consider the following statements:
- The Oil Pool Account of Government of India was dismantled with effect from 1-4-2002
- Subsidies on PDS kerosene and domestic LPG are borne by Consolidated Fund of India
- An expert committee headed by Dr. R. A. Mashelkar to formulate a national auto fuel policy recommended that Bharat Stage - II Emission Norms should be applied throughout the country by 1 April, 2004
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 1 and 3
- 1, 2 and 3
उत्तर पहा
उत्तर: A
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
E20 petrol marketed in India is petrol blended with ethanol to what percentage by volume?
- 10 per cent
- 15 per cent
- 25 per cent
- 20 per cent
उत्तर पहा
उत्तर: D — Correct: 20 per cent — E20 means 20 per cent ethanol blended with petrol. • 10 per cent — wrong: 10 per cent corresponds to E10, an earlier blending level. • 15 per cent — wrong: 15 per cent would be E15, not E20. • 25 per cent — wrong: 25 per cent would be E25, which is not what E20 denotes.
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