Explained: Why India's 2025 ethanol blending target may not be a good idea

India's target to have 20% ethanol blended in petrol will have to bring more land under cultivation of raw material, and that may affect food security. Yet, emissions will not reduce drastically

For India to meet its target of 20 per cent ethanol blended in petrol by the year 2025 (commonly known as the E20 target), it will have to bring in more land under cultivation of feedstock--agricultural products that can be converted into ethanol--land that can be better utilised for the generation of renewable energy and for furthering India's electric vehicles adoption programme, according to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

Besides, the ethanol target will not reduce earth-warming emissions drastically, it may be detrimental to India's food security, and will only help us inch