The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in India has indicated that the country is on track to achieve the target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol within the next two months.

This milestone is part of the government's efforts to reduce pollution, as it will help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and promote cleaner energy sources.

The target is set for the current marketing season, and its success is expected to have significant environmental benefits.

Additionally, major vehicle manufacturers like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai Motors are working on vehicles that can run on 100 percent bio-ethanol, further supporting the transition to a greener future.

The Highways Minister emphasized the severity of pollution in India, noting that 42 of the country's cities are among the 50 most polluted in the world.

India currently imports petroleum worth around Rs 22 lakh crore annually, a situation that strains foreign exchange reserves and contributes to pollution.

Achieving the 20 percent ethanol blending target will also pave the way for further steps to increase ethanol use in the future.

In preparation, the government is discussing a roadmap to increase ethanol use beyond 2025. Ethanol in India is mainly produced from sugarcane, rice, and maize, with a significant amount of sugarcane being used for ethanol production in the current marketing season.