• MD SHAKEB KHAN

Abstract India’s energy transition is increasingly shaped by three interconnected pressures: rising energy demand, persistent dependence on imported fossil fuels, and escalating environmental challenges such as greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution. The transport sector remains a major contributor to fuel demand growth, deepening India’s vulnerability to global crude oil price volatility and supply disruptions. In response, India has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy that combines renewable electricity expansion, energy efficiency, and alternative fuels. Among these, biofuels have emerged as a strategic policy instrument due to their domestic production potential, infrastructure compatibility, and capacity to reduce lifecycle emissions when sustainably produced. India has achieved a major milestone by reaching the 20% ethanol blending target (E20) earlier than its original 2030 timeline, demonstrating strong policy coordination under the National Policy on Biofuels. However, achieving energy independence requires expanding beyond petrol substitution toward diesel, gaseous transport fuels, and aviation. The Union Budget 2026–27 marks a significant turning point by strengthening the biofuel agenda through the phased introduction of compressed bio-gas (CBG) blending into CNG, excise duty relief for biogas-blended CNG, continued progress toward higher ethanol blends such as E27, and reinforcement of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending targets for international flights from 2027. Using a comparative policy analysis (CPA) framework, this paper evaluates the scope, feasibility, and challenges of India’s expanded biofuel strategy, highlighting opportunities and implementation risks between 2025 and 2030.

Biofuels, Ethanol Blending, CBG, SAF, Energy Independence, Union Budget 2026–27, India

"India’s Biofuel Transition and Energy Independence: A Comparative Policy Analysis of Union Budget 2026–27", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 2, page no.a634-a639, February-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2602086.pdf

"India’s Biofuel Transition and Energy Independence: A Comparative Policy Analysis of Union Budget 2026–27", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 2, page no. ppa634-a639, February-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2602086.pdf