Bharat NCAP (National Car Assessment Program) is a new safety assessment program for automobiles in India, which proposes a mechanism of awarding ‘Star Ratings’ to cars based upon their performance in crash tests. Bharat NCAP standard is aligned with global benchmarks and it is beyond minimum regulatory requirements.

 

The Bharat NCAP assessment allocate Star Ratings from 1 to 5 stars. Testing of vehicles for this program will be carried out at testing agencies with the necessary infrastructure. This program is applicable on type approved motor vehicles of category M1 with a gross vehicle weight less than 3.5 tonnes, manufactured or imported in the country. M1 category motor vehicles are used for the carriage of passengers, comprising eight seats, in addition to the driver’s seat.

 

The significance of Bharat NCAP is that it empowers consumers to make informed decisions, increases the export-worthiness of Indian cars, and supports the goal of making India a self-reliant automobile hub. However, implementing the program faces challenges, such as the need for larger infrastructure and greater budgetary support. The way forward is to align the testing protocol with global crash test protocols, allowing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to get their vehicles tested at India’s own in-house testing facilities.