Bharat NCAP: New vehicle safety norms set for launch

The Centre will launch on Tuesday the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP), aimed at improving road safety by raising the safety standards of motor vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. "The programme aims to provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market," said an official statement.

The programme will be launched by road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari.

Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their vehicles to be tested as per the Automotive Industry Standard 197. Based on the performance in the tests, the vehicles will be awarded star ratings for adult occupants and child occupants.


"Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase decision," the statement said.

With demand for safer cars increasing, car manufacturers will be encouraged to comply with customer needs. It is also expected that Indian cars will be able to compete better in the global market as they comply with higher safety standards in the future. This will increase the export potential of the domestic car manufacturers while developing a safety sensitive car market in the country.