Bharat NCAP 2 to launch October 2027, assessing entire vehicle safety chain: Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi: The government plans to roll out Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) 2 from October 2027 to assess the entire vehicle safety chain, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, as India seeks to tackle its severe road accident problem.

"After the success of Bharat NCAP, we are moving forward with Bharat NCAP 2. This is a very important programme wherein, from October 2027, the entire safety chain will be evaluated," he said while addressing the 66th annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

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Launched in 2023, Bharat NCAP crash-tests passenger cars and awards them a safety rating of one to five stars based on their performance in protecting adult and child occupants during collisions.

Gadkari noted that the cost of vehicle testing in India is 75% lower, at around ₹60 lakh per model, compared with ₹2.5 crore per vehicle under Global NCAP, making India a preferred destination for vehicle testing.

Gadkari said his ministry will soon introduce a graded point system for driving licences and vehicle registration certificates to penalise repeat offences while incentivising good driving behaviour.

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"The government is working on a mechanism under which repeated violations of safety rules could lead to the cancellation of driving licences, while responsible drivers could receive incentives," he said.