Biofuels — Tech Evolutions

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
National Policy on Biofuels 2018	2018	Replaced the 2009 policy, categorizing biofuels into Basic and Advanced, expanding feedstock for ethanol (including damaged food grains, surplus rice), and promoting 2G biofuels with incentives.	Provided a comprehensive framework, diversified feedstock options, and gave a significant push to advanced biofuels, addressing the 'food vs. fuel' concern by utilizing waste and surplus materials. It laid the groundwork for the E20 target.
Amendments to National Policy on Biofuels 2018	2022	Advanced the E20 blending target from 2030 to 2025, allowed more feedstocks for ethanol production (e.g., sugarcane juice), and permitted export of biofuels in specific cases.	Significantly accelerated India's ethanol blending goals, requiring rapid expansion of production capacity. The inclusion of sugarcane juice directly for ethanol production streamlined the process and provided flexibility, further boosting the EBP and aligning with India's energy security objectives.