This paper explores India's energy landscape, critically analyzing the challenges and potential solutions for sustainable development. With aspirations to become the world's third-largest economy, India faces heightened energy demands fueled by economic growth, population expansion, and urbanisation. The country grapples with a heavy reliance on imported crude oil and a substantial carbon footprint from existing primary energy sources, emphasizing the need for strategic interventions. The research advocates a multi-fuel strategy, particularly emphasising the promising role of bioethanol. Key stakeholders in India's bioethanol ecosystem include farmers, Sugar mills, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and consumers. The National Policy on Biofuels (NPB) aims to boost bioethanol usage, aligning with national energy security, climate change mitigation, and employment generation objectives. The research underscores the positive energy value of bioethanol produced from sugarcane in India, proposing improvements in farming practices and its solarification. Acknowledging the political sensitivity surrounding sugarcane crops, the report calls for initiatives to diversify feedstocks and enhance the competitiveness of domestically produced ethanol. Bioethanol's alignment with Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG-7, underscores its potential to contribute to social, economic, and environmental sustainability in India's road transport sector.
Keywords: Ethanol blending, Biofuel, Ethanol blending in Brazil, Bio-refineries, Bio-economy, Flex-fuel Vehicles.