India has no easily accessible, real-time database telling you exactly what blend of petrol a specific pump dispenses. Labelling is inconsistent. Here’s how to figure out what’s actually going into your tank.
What the rules say about labelling
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification IS 2796:2017 (Amd. 6) defines E20 petrol. Under the Legal Metrology Act, fuel dispensers are supposed to display the product name and grade. In practice, many pumps label dispensers as “Petrol” or “MS” (Motor Spirit) without specifying the ethanol percentage.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has issued guidelines requiring pumps to display the ethanol blend ratio. Compliance, however, is uneven. Some pumps have updated stickers; many have not.
Method 1: Read the dispenser
The simplest check. Look at the dispenser nozzle and display panel for:
- E20 or E20 Petrol labelling
- A sticker showing “Contains up to 20% Ethanol”
- The BIS mark with IS 2796 reference
If none of these are visible, it does not mean the fuel is pure petrol. Since April 2026, E20 is the standard blend supplied to all regular dispensers nationwide. The absence of a label usually means the pump hasn’t updated its signage, not that it’s selling E0.
Method 2: Ask the pump attendant
Pump attendants can usually tell you what they’re dispensing, but their knowledge varies. Useful questions:
- “Is this E20 or E10?” — Most will confirm E20 since that’s the standard supply now.
- “When did you switch to E20?” — Gives you a timeline.
- “Do you sell any non-blended petrol?” — The answer will almost always be no.
Be aware that attendants may not know the exact blend ratio. They sell what the tanker delivers. The blend is determined upstream by the oil marketing company (OMC).
Method 3: Check OMC websites and apps
The three major OMCs — Indian Oil (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — have mobile apps and websites that list fuel stations with some product information:
- IndianOil ONE app — lists stations and shows fuel types available
- SmartDrive (BPCL) app — station locator with fuel information
- HP Pay app — HPCL station finder
The limitation: these apps rarely show the exact ethanol percentage. They may list “MS” (motor spirit) without specifying whether it’s E10 or E20. Still, they are useful for locating stations and checking if a station sells premium fuels, which may have a different blend ratio.
Method 4: Premium fuels — a partial escape?
Premium petrol brands — IOCL’s XtraPremium, BPCL’s Speed, HPCL’s poWer 99 — are often marketed as higher-octane options. The critical question is: are they still E20?
As of mid-2026, premium fuels are also E20-blended in most locations. The BIS specification applies to all motor spirit grades. Some OMCs have explored lower-ethanol premium blends, but there is no nationwide guarantee that buying premium gets you less ethanol. Always ask.
Method 5: Physical fuel testing
If you want certainty about what’s in your tank, you can test the fuel:
The water-separation test (DIY)
Ethanol is hygroscopic — it absorbs water. This property can be used for a rough test:
- Collect a small sample of petrol in a clean, graduated glass container.
- Note the volume (e.g., 100 ml).
- Add a small amount of water (e.g., 10 ml) and shake vigorously.
- Let it settle for 15–20 minutes.
- The water layer at the bottom will be larger than the 10 ml you added — the extra volume is the ethanol that dissolved into the water layer.
This gives a rough estimate. It is not laboratory-grade, but it can distinguish between E5, E10, and E20 reasonably well. For E20, the water layer should be approximately 30 ml (10 ml water + ~20 ml ethanol from the 100 ml sample).
Lab testing
BIS-accredited labs can test fuel samples for exact ethanol content. This is relevant if you suspect the fuel is adulterated beyond the specified 20%. Contact your nearest BIS-listed petroleum testing laboratory. The cost is typically ₹2,000–5,000 per sample.
What you cannot do (yet)
There is currently no nationwide real-time database showing the exact ethanol percentage at each of India’s 80,000+ fuel stations. This is one of the transparency gaps the VahanChod movement highlights:
- Consumers cannot make informed fuel choices without clear, standardised labelling.
- There is no independent, pump-level quality monitoring accessible to the public.
- OMCs control the data, and there is no regulatory requirement to publish pump-level blend ratios.
What should change
The demand is straightforward: every fuel dispenser should clearly display the ethanol percentage of the fuel it is dispensing, and this data should be available on OMC apps in real time. This is not a radical ask — it is basic consumer transparency. Until it happens, the methods above are the best tools available.