New Delhi, India: India has formally allowed the blending of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), ethanol and other synthetic hydrocarbons into aviation turbine fuel (ATF), marking a significant regulatory shift aimed at reducing emissions and lowering dependence on imported crude oil.
The move follows an amendment to the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001, issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas under the Essential Commodities Act. The revised framework expands the legal definition of ATF to include not only conventional hydrocarbons but also blends incorporating synthetic and renewable components.
With the amendment now in force, India has effectively granted legal recognition to SAF and other alternative aviation fuels, allowing their integration into the country’s aviation fuel ecosystem for the first time.
The updated rules define ATF as a mixture of hydrocarbons conforming to IS 1571 standards or blends with synthetic hydrocarbons under IS 17081 specifications, enabling the inclusion of newer, cleaner fuel variants.
The notification also aligns enforcement provisions with updated criminal procedure laws, modernising the regulatory framework governing fuel marketing and distribution.
Despite enabling SAF blending, the government has not introduced mandatory blending requirements at this stage.
However, India has already outlined a phased roadmap for SAF adoption in international aviation:
- 1% blending by 2027
- 2% by 2028
- 5% by 2030
No targets have been specified for domestic flights so far, indicating a gradual, phased transition strategy.
The policy aims to address two major strategic priorities: decarbonisation and energy security.
India currently relies heavily on crude imports, with a significant portion of aviation fuel derived from fossil sources. By enabling SAF blending, the government seeks to reduce emissions while diversifying fuel sources and lowering import dependence.
Globally, SAF is produced from renewable feedstocks such as waste oils, agricultural residues, municipal waste and even captured carbon, offering a lower lifecycle carbon footprint compared to conventional jet fuel.
The move positions India alongside global efforts to decarbonise aviation under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) led by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
CORSIA will become mandatory for most countries from 2027, requiring airlines to offset emissions above 2020 levels and accelerating the adoption of cleaner fuels such as SAF.
Several countries, including the UK and Japan, have already introduced SAF blending mandates, and India’s regulatory update signals its intent to align with these international trends.
While SAF offers environmental benefits, it remains more expensive than conventional jet fuel, posing cost challenges for airlines in the near term.
However, policymakers expect that scaling domestic production particularly using ethanol and alcohol-to-jet pathways could improve cost competitiveness over time and create new opportunities in India’s biofuel sector.
Industry stakeholders also view the move as a critical first step that enables investment, production capacity development and long-term fuel transition planning.
The latest amendment does not mandate immediate operational changes for airlines but establishes the legal and regulatory foundation required for SAF adoption in India’s aviation sector.
By bringing alternative aviation fuels under the formal definition of ATF, the government has removed a key regulatory barrier, signalling a long-term transition toward cleaner aviation fuel systems.
