Bharat NCAP: India-specific crash safety norms announced

India will get its own crash safety assessment program similar to Euro NCAP, Global NCAP and Latin NCAP.

The Government of India plans to roll out a safety assessment program similar to Euro NCAP and Global NCAP.

According to Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) will evaluate the safety of new vehicles and assign ‘star ratings’. However, the minister stopped short of confirming the timeline for its rollout.

To achieve a higher rating, vehicles will be required to have safety features like 6 airbags, electronic stability control (ESC) and 3-point seatbelts. The government could also make Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) mandatory. It includes features such as Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), lane departure warning, forward collision warning and driver drowsiness detection.

At present, most vehicles manufactured and sold in India are assessed by Global NCAP.