Bharat NCAP

 Why in News: Launch of Bharat New Car Assessment Programme

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP): A Step Towards Safer Cars in India

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP), an indigenous star-rating system for crash testing cars in India.

• This voluntary initiative aims to enhance road safety by evaluating and rating the safety features of cars based on crash tests and safety technologies. Here are the key points regarding Bharat NCAP:

Introduction and Scope:

• Bharat NCAP is a voluntary program launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to assess and rate the safety of vehicles in terms of their crashworthiness.

• The program will be applicable to passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats, excluding the driver’s seat, and a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kgs.

• Cars voluntarily nominated by automobile manufacturers will undergo crash tests based on protocols specified in the upcoming Automotive Industry Standard 197.

Rating Criteria:

• Cars will be evaluated based on three parameters: adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, and safety assist technologies.

• Ratings will range from one to five stars, with higher ratings indicating better safety performance.

Testing Process:

• The testing process involves various crash tests, including a frontal offset test, side impact test, and pole-side impact test, which simulate real-world collision scenarios.

• The frontal offset test simulates a collision between two cars of the same weight at 64 kmph and 40% overlap.

• The side impact test evaluates the car’s performance in a side collision at 50 kmph.

• The pole-side impact test replicates a crash into a rigid pole at 29 kmph.

Implementation and Impact:

• While the program is voluntary, certain cases such as popular variants (with a minimum sale of 30,000 units) or vehicles recommended by the Ministry may undergo mandatory testing.

• The objective of Bharat NCAP is to empower consumers with safety information, thereby driving demand for safer vehicles and reducing road fatalities.

• India witnesses a significant number of road fatalities annually, and the program aims to improve vehicle safety standards and reduce the economic burden of road accidents.

Global Benchmarking:

• The testing protocols of Bharat NCAP are inspired by the Global NCAP, a global initiative for assessing vehicle safety.

• The Global NCAP’s Safer Cars for India campaign in 2014 exposed safety deficiencies in various car models and prompted manufacturers to enhance safety features.

• India’s program aims to align with global standards and improve road safety over time.

Challenges and Future Directions:

• To achieve meaningful implementation, India needs to develop crash testing capabilities and expertise.

• Over time, Bharat NCAP should align with international standards by expanding testing parameters and incorporating additional safety assessments, such as roll-over tests and advanced safety technologies.