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Centre waives excise duty on higher ethanol-blended petrol to boost biofuel adoption

The Centre has removed excise duty on petrol blended with 22-30 per cent ethanol, a move aimed at encouraging higher ethanol adoption and reducing dependence on imported crude oil.

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Fuel Rate

The central government has exempted petrol blended with higher levels of ethanol from excise duty, extending fiscal support beyond the existing E20 fuel standard. The move applies to fuel variants containing between 22 per cent and 30 per cent ethanol, including E22, E25, E27 and E30 blends.

The decision marks one of the first major tax incentives aimed specifically at encouraging the use of ethanol blends above E20. It comes as India continues to expand its biofuel programme to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and promote cleaner fuel alternatives.

New standards and tax support pave way for higher blends

The excise-duty exemption follows the recent notification of fuel-quality standards for E22, E25, E27 and E30 petrol blends by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The standards came into effect on May 15, 2026, and outline specifications related to ethanol content, octane ratings, sulphur limits and testing procedures.

Industry observers view the combination of technical standards and tax incentives as an important step towards the future adoption of higher ethanol-blended fuels across the country.

Ethanol blending programme gathers pace

India’s ethanol blending initiative has expanded rapidly in recent years. Under the National Policy on Biofuels, the government advanced its target of achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to the Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26.

According to government data, public sector oil marketing companies achieved 10 per cent blending in June 2022 ahead of schedule. Blending levels subsequently increased to 12.06 per cent in 2022-23, 14.60 per cent in 2023-24 and 17.98 per cent in 2024-25 up to February 2025.

Government highlights economic and environmental benefits

The government sees ethanol as a strategic tool for reducing India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. India remains one of the world’s largest crude oil importers, making fuel imports a significant burden on the economy.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has repeatedly argued that higher ethanol use can lower pollution, support domestic agriculture and help retain money within the country that would otherwise be spent on fuel imports.

The policy is also expected to create additional demand for ethanol feedstocks and support farmers involved in supplying raw materials for biofuel production.

Debate over higher ethanol blends continues

The expansion of ethanol-blended fuel has generated discussion among vehicle owners regarding compatibility and fuel efficiency. Concerns linked to E20 fuel previously reached the Supreme Court, which dismissed a petition challenging its nationwide rollout in 2025. The government maintained that the transition had been thoroughly evaluated and would deliver broader economic benefits.

Industry groups have stated that while some older vehicles may experience a slight reduction in mileage with higher ethanol content, E20 fuel does not present a safety risk.

The latest tax exemption suggests policymakers are preparing for a future in which ethanol blends beyond E20 play a larger role in India’s fuel ecosystem.

India News

IMD predicts very heavy rainfall across Uttar Pradesh over next 24 hours, issues thunderstorm alert

The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and heavy to very heavy showers across Uttar Pradesh over the next 24 hours, while the Hindon river in Noida has crossed the danger mark.

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Rain

Large parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to witness widespread rainfall over the next 24 hours, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting rain or thundershowers across most parts of the state. The weather department has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several regions along with thunderstorms and lightning.

IMD issues heavy rain warning for West and East Uttar Pradesh

According to the IMD, isolated places in West Uttar Pradesh are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. In East Uttar Pradesh, heavy rainfall is expected at a few places, while isolated locations may experience very heavy rainfall.

The department has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at a few places across the state during this period.

Lucknow likely to witness rain and thunderstorms

For Lucknow and nearby areas, the IMD has predicted an overcast sky with intermittent rain and thundershowers on Sunday.

The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to be 26 degrees Celsius. The weather office has also warned of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall at isolated locations in and around the city.

Hindon river flows above danger mark in Noida

The ongoing wet spell has also affected river levels in western Uttar Pradesh.

In Gautam Buddh Nagar district, the Central Water Commission (CWC) issued a warning after the Hindon river in Noida crossed the danger mark. According to the commission’s bulletin issued at 6:52 pm, the river level stood at 196.16 metres at 6 pm, which is 0.16 metres above the danger level of 196.0 metres.

The water level was rising at a rate of 40.01 mm per hour and remained 1.12 metres below the highest flood level of 197.28 metres, recorded on July 26, 2023. The commission said the river was flowing between the danger mark and the highest flood level.

Rainfall recorded across several districts

Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 31.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which was 2.5 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 27.9 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees above normal. The city received only a trace of rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

Among the major weather stations, Banda recorded the highest rainfall at 70.8 mm, followed by Hamirpur (45 mm), Ghazipur (41.6 mm) and Churk in Sonbhadra (29.4 mm).

Other rainfall figures included Jhansi (9.8 mm), Barabanki (9 mm), Ballia (6.1 mm), Bareilly (5.4 mm), Orai (4.2 mm), Shahjahanpur (2 mm), Prayagraj (1.6 mm), Fursatganj (0.8 mm), Gorakhpur and Moradabad (0.4 mm each) and Bahraich (0.2 mm).

Meanwhile, stations including Kanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Ayodhya, Sultanpur and Basti did not record any rainfall during the observation period.

Monsoon keeps temperatures below normal

The prevailing monsoon conditions kept daytime temperatures below normal in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. However, parts of the Bundelkhand region continued to record maximum temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius despite the ongoing rainy spell.

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Sonam Wangchuk’s wife seeks urgent High Court hearing to shift him to private hospital

Gitanjali J Angmo has moved the Delhi High Court seeking Sonam Wangchuk’s transfer to a private hospital, alleging his continued stay at Safdarjung Hospital amounts to illegal detention.

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Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing to allow his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to a private medical facility. The plea comes amid concerns over Wangchuk’s health after he spent weeks on a hunger strike demanding reforms in the education system.

According to Angmo, the government-run hospital has refused to discharge Wangchuk despite repeated requests from the family. She has also alleged that heavy police deployment inside the hospital has severely restricted their movement.

Wife alleges ‘illegal detention’ inside hospital

In a social media post, Gitanjali J Angmo claimed that hospital authorities have not permitted the family to shift Wangchuk to a private hospital of their choice.

She alleged that around 30 police personnel were stationed on their hospital floor, with more than 100 deployed across the premises, describing the situation as “illegal detention” rather than medical care.

Angmo said the restrictions have limited the family’s movement within the hospital and urged the court to intervene.

Shifted to hospital after hunger strike entered 21st day

Police shifted Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital after his hunger strike entered its 21st day.

The activist has been on an indefinite fast since June 28 as part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s protest against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. His family says his health has deteriorated significantly during the protest.

The Delhi High Court is expected to consider the plea seeking his transfer to a private hospital.

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Abhishek Banerjee’s office demolished in Bengal, Trinamool alleges political vendetta

The South 24 Parganas administration demolished Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala over alleged building plan violations. The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of carrying out politically motivated action.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Lok Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s office in Amtala, located in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, was demolished by the district administration on Saturday, triggering a fresh political confrontation between the ruling BJP government in the state and the opposition Trinamool Congress.

Administration cites alleged building violations

According to officials, the office was demolished because it was allegedly constructed without an approved building plan. Authorities said notices seeking explanations and relevant documents regarding the construction were issued on June 30 and July 7.

The administration also directed the Diamond Harbour MP to appear before district officials on July 15 and submit his response.

Officials claimed that no reply was received to either notice and that Banerjee did not appear before the administration as instructed. Following this, authorities decided to proceed with demolition.

A bulldozer was brought to the site on Saturday morning, and a heavy police presence was deployed after security arrangements were put in place around the premises before the demolition began.

Trinamool Congress alleges political revenge

Reacting to the action, the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of targeting its leaders through what it described as “vengeful, violent politics.”

The party said the matter is already pending before a court and alleged that a “bulldozer culture” has emerged in West Bengal since the BJP came to power. It described the demolition as an act of political vengeance and alleged “goonda raj” during the operation.

Political backdrop

The demolition comes months after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured 208 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. The Trinamool was reduced to 80 seats, while former party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state’s Chief Minister.

Since its electoral defeat, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has witnessed internal turmoil. A faction of MLAs backed Ritabrata Banerjee, who is now the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Several Lok Sabha MPs also left the party to join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, while former Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned and later joined the BJP.

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