Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, unveiled the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) in New Delhi. This initiative is said to elevate road safety by setting enhanced vehicle safety standards for vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes in India.

“This is a landmark step towards empowering our consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing safer cars,” remarked Gadkari during the launch.

The program, which will be applicable to type-approved M1 category motor vehicles weighing less than 3.5T GVW, is voluntary. Only the base variants of a given model will undergo testing. Set to commence on 1st October 2023, the program will adhere to the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. Over 30 car models have already been offered by Indian carmakers for assessment under Bharat NCAP, Gadkari said during the event.

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“The new safety regime under BHARAT NCAP and AIS-197 is a mutual win-win for manufacturers and consumers. It’s a pivotal move towards safeguarding our citizens’ lives and positioning our Automobile Industry as the world’s leading auto manufacturing hub,” he added.

The Minister emphasised that the Bharat NCAP will significantly improve the safety and quality of vehicles in India. It will also foster healthy competition among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to produce safer vehicles. After the Bharat NCAP rating system is fully functional, the government plans to tune it to test green vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) and alternative fuels

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