Bharat NCAP: India has taken a significant step towards enhancing road safety with the introduction of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP). Officially implemented from October 1, 2023, this initiative aims to evaluate and rate the safety of cars, whether produced domestically or imported, on a scale from 0 to 5 based on their performance in crash tests.Starting on December 15, 2023, the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP or BNCAP) will launch its crash testing regime. Heres a comprehensive look at this crucial development.Understanding Bharat NCAPBharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP) was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari, during an event held in Delhi on August 22, 2023. Its Indias very own crash test safety program, designed to subject vehicles to rigorous testing.This programme signifies a monumental shift as cars produced in India will now be assessed within the country, eliminating the need for automakers to send their vehicle samples abroad for crash testing.India NCAP crash testing aligns with the automotive industry standard AIS 197, covering vehicles in the M1 category capable of carrying up to eight passengers, including the driver, and having a gross weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.Pioneering Companies in Bharat NCAPCurrently, four leading car companies in India have emerged as frontrunners, slated to participate in the initial round of crash tests. These industry giants include Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Mahindra & Mahindra. Tata Motors, notably, is the first company to register its models for testing.Thus far, automakers have enrolled over three dozen car models for examination, and more than 30 cars will undergo crash tests in the first phase. In the future, its anticipated that several more companies will join the ranks of Bharat NCAP in the second batch.Deciphering Safety RatingsTo simplify the selection process for car buyers, vehicle manufacturers will assign safety ratings to their models based on testing outcomes. For the crash tests, companies can submit any vehicle model of their choice.The agency conducting these tests will assess cars in accordance with Indian conditions and bestow upon them safety ratings, ranging from 0 to 5 stars. A 0-star rating indicates a lack of safety, while a 5-star rating signifies a vehicles high safety standards.Its essential to note that India NCAP is not compulsory, leaving it to automobile companies to decide whether they wish to partake in crash tests for their cars safety ratings.
