Nitin Gadkari Defends Ethanol Blending at Bihar Investor Summit

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari defended the Indian government's ethanol-blending program during the inaugural session of the Bihar Investor Summit 2026 in Patna on October 1. Gadkari rejected claims that ethanol-blended petrol damages motor vehicles, noting that 40 million four-wheelers and 200 million two-wheelers have used the fuel since 2022 without reported issues. He asserted that leading automobile brands have tested vehicles on 100 percent ethanol with no complaints.

Gadkari framed the policy as a strategic move to diversify the agriculture sector, transforming farmers from food producers into energy producers. He stated that using corn for ethanol has generated up to ₹45,000 crore in additional earnings for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, while also highlighting the development of aviation fuel from rice straw.

During the summit, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary urged investors to establish operations in the state. Choudhary announced that the state government will prioritize local procurement by purchasing 25% of quality-standard products manufactured within Bihar and assisting those businesses with market access.