Back in 2016, the Indian government proposed a star rating program for new passenger cars based on safety features, like the Global NCAP. This was to be implemented on a voluntary basis by car manufacturers, mentioning the safety performance of the car.
However, the idea fell through quickly after that. In a reformed ambition towards refining road and vehicle safety in the country, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, Nitin Gadkari, in a recent press conference addressing ‘Automobile Safety Ecosystem in India’, confirmed that the Centre will soon make an announcement of having an India-specific vehicle safety rating program, called Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), as well as implement essential safety features in newer cars.
While speaking on having safety ratings in line with systems in place across the world, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India said, “It is very important that carmakers adhere to the global safety standards in India as well, and for this reason, the government will soon introduce Bharat NCAP, an independent car crash testing body, which will determine the safety rating of a car depending on various criteria, and will be at par with the programs running in USA, Australia, EU, and Japan. This will enable a buyer to make an informed decision while purchasing a car.”
Apart from creating a star-rating system for vehicle safety in the country, the central government is also working on making it mandatory for cars to have six airbags and three-point seatbelts for all passengers, including the rear middle seat. Terming the current safety protocols in India as outdated and inconsistent, Gadkari emphasised the government’s commitment to improving the safety standards of vehicles in India, however, invited suggestions from the public as well on the matter.
