Biomass (in modern context, biofuels) have been the oldest source of energy and still accounts for about 10 per cent of total world energy consumption. With the steeply rising prices of fossil fuels in the last few years and the increasing concerns about environmental pollution and global warming, the search for alternative fuels is gathering speed. In this context the present paper tries to examine the issue in the context of India and its government’s policies to promote biofuels. It has been a matter of concern that the overall production and consumption of biofuels in India is still very meagre. In this context we also examine the role of the central- and state-level government in promoting biodiesel and also look into the ‘trade-off’ aspects between food crops and these fuel crops as India can ill afford to compromise its food security.
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