UPSC | Prelims GS | 2026

In the ethanol procurement tender for Ethanol Supply Year 2026–27, which feedstock was reported as remaining eligible while sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and B-heavy molasses were excluded?

  1. C-heavy molasses
  2. Only maize starch
  3. Petroleum naphtha
  4. Crude palm oil

Answer

Correct Answer

C-heavy molasses

Explanation

Correct: A. The tender excluded juice, syrup and B-heavy molasses but retained C-heavy-molasses-based ethanol as eligible.

B is too narrow and does not reflect the feedstock category identified in the report.

C is a fossil-fuel input and was not part of the described ethanol tender categories.

D is an edible-oil feedstock, not the eligible molasses pathway reported.

Topics: biofuels, c-heavy molasses feedstock, economy, ethanol blending