UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How sustainable is India’s E20 push?
Q1. Under the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, the single largest dedicated financial support instrument announced for the 'Advanced Biofuels' category was which one of the following?
- A. A viability gap funding scheme of ₹5,000 crore over six years for second-generation (2G) ethanol bio-refineries
- B. A viability gap funding scheme of ₹5,000 crore over six years for first-generation (1G) molasses-based distilleries
- C. An interest subvention scheme of ₹5,000 crore over six years for grain-based standalone distilleries
- D. A capital subsidy scheme of ₹5,000 crore over six years for compressed bio-gas retail outlets
Q2. The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 was formally amended to advance the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 in which year, and by which authority?
- A. 2020, by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
- B. 2021, by the NITI Aayog Expert Committee on ethanol blending
- C. 2022, by the Union Cabinet
- D. 2023, by the Inter-Ministerial Committee under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Q3. Which one of the following is the nodal department of the Government of India for promotion of fuel grade ethanol, including the schemes for enhancing ethanol distillation capacity?
- A. Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
- B. Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
- C. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
- D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Q4. As stated by the Government in 2026, India's installed ethanol production capacity stood at approximately how many crore litres?
- A. 421 crore litres
- B. 1,016 crore litres
- C. 1,380 crore litres
- D. 2,000 crore litres
Q5. Consider the following claims made by the Government in 2026 regarding the cumulative outcomes of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme:
1. Foreign exchange savings of about ₹1.97 lakh crore since Ethanol Supply Year 2014-15
2. Payments of about ₹1.66 lakh crore transferred to farmers
3. A fall in India's crude oil import dependence to below 75% of consumption
4. Substitution of about 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Foreign exchange savings of about ₹1.97 lakh crore since Ethanol Supply Year 2014-15
- Payments of about ₹1.66 lakh crore transferred to farmers
- A fall in India's crude oil import dependence to below 75% of consumption
- Substitution of about 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 and 4
Q6. Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana:
1. It provides financial support to advanced biofuel projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.
2. Its implementation period was extended by five years, up to 2028-29.
3. Following its amendment, 'bolt on' plants and brownfield projects also became eligible for assistance under it.
4. It funds only first generation grain-based distilleries and excludes every other category of project.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It provides financial support to advanced biofuel projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.
- Its implementation period was extended by five years, up to 2028-29.
- Following its amendment, 'bolt on' plants and brownfield projects also became eligible for assistance under it.
- It funds only first generation grain-based distilleries and excludes every other category of project.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q7. As clarified by the Government in 2026, the restriction on ethanol imports in the context of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme means precisely which one of the following?
- A. Ethanol supplied for fuel blending is sourced entirely from domestic producers, while imports of ethanol for non-fuel industrial uses continue
- B. All imports of ethanol into India, whether for fuel blending, industrial use or potable use, stand prohibited without exception
- C. Ethanol may be imported for fuel blending only from countries with which India has a free trade agreement already in force
- D. Ethanol may be imported for fuel blending up to an annual quota fixed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution
Q8. Consider the following statements comparing India's domestic ethanol supply position with its ethanol trade with the United States in 2026:
1. Ethanol used for fuel blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme was sourced entirely from domestic producers.
2. India made no commitment relating to the import of ethanol for fuel blending from the United States in its trade discussions with that country.
3. Since domestic ethanol production capacity now exceeds requirement, India has ceased all ethanol imports from the United States.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Ethanol used for fuel blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme was sourced entirely from domestic producers.
- India made no commitment relating to the import of ethanol for fuel blending from the United States in its trade discussions with that country.
- Since domestic ethanol production capacity now exceeds requirement, India has ceased all ethanol imports from the United States.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Consider the following statements comparing E10-tuned and E20-tuned vehicles in India:
1. Ethanol has an octane rating of about 108.5 as against about 84.4 for petrol, and vehicles tuned for E20 accordingly deliver better acceleration.
2. In E20-tuned vehicles, the drop in fuel efficiency relative to E10-tuned vehicles is officially placed at 15 to 20 per cent.
3. Vehicles that are E20 material-compliant with E10-tuned engines entered production from April 2023, while vehicles with E20-tuned engines entered production from April 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Ethanol has an octane rating of about 108.5 as against about 84.4 for petrol, and vehicles tuned for E20 accordingly deliver better acceleration.
- In E20-tuned vehicles, the drop in fuel efficiency relative to E10-tuned vehicles is officially placed at 15 to 20 per cent.
- Vehicles that are E20 material-compliant with E10-tuned engines entered production from April 2023, while vehicles with E20-tuned engines entered production from April 2025.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. In official statements on the energy security rationale for ethanol blending in 2026, the figure of about 88.5 per cent cited for India refers to which one of the following?
- A. The share of India's crude oil consumption that is met through imports
- B. The share of India's petroleum product consumption met through imports of finished products
- C. The share of India's crude oil imports that is sourced from West Asian suppliers
- D. The share of India's total primary energy demand that is met from fossil fuel sources