Enhanced Road Safety in India: Nitin Gadkari to Launch Bharat NCAP on August 22

In a significant advancement for road safety in India, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari is all set to launch the much-awaited India New Car Assessment Program (India NCAP) on August 22, 2023. It marks the opening of the enterprise of India. An independent crash testing program where the government will rigorously evaluate newly released vehicles on various parameters to ascertain their roadworthiness.

The program also represents a significant progress in the government's commitment to enhance road safety by raising safety standards for motor vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes in India.

Currently, vehicles sold in India do not undergo any official road safety evaluation by government or private entities within the country. However, Global NCAP, a South Africa-based non-profit organization, conducts voluntary crash tests for new cars sold in India through its SaferCarsForIndia campaign. Nevertheless, these tests, conducted by Global NCAP, are largely voluntary rather than mandated by the government.

The main objective of the Bharat NCAP program is to equip car customers with a tool for comparative evaluation of crash safety among motor vehicles available in the market. Within this framework, car manufacturers can voluntarily submit their vehicles for testing in accordance with Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. The initiative is aimed at promoting the safety conscious automobile market in India.

The performance-based evaluation of the program will translate into star ratings for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP). Potential car buyers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles, thereby guiding their buying decisions.

The initiative is expected to increase the demand for safer cars, forcing car manufacturers to align with consumer preferences. A press release on the Press Information Bureau (PIB) platform states that improved safety standards can enhance the global competitiveness of Indian cars, resulting in increased export potential of Indian car manufacturers.