New ethanol tender stirs feedstock worries as rice gains over maize

Oil marketing companies' ethanol tender for supply year 2026-27 has worried grain-based producers and parts of the sugar industry. It sets ₹60.32 a litre for surplus foodgrains, capped at 108 crore litres for the first three quarters, ₹64 for damaged foodgrains and ₹66 for maize plus ₹2.79. Critics question pricing and allocation priorities.