The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently approved the draft GSR (General Statutory Rules) notification to launch the Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme). Designed to improve vehicle safety standards, Bharat NCAP will start from 1st April 2023 and offer auto manufacturers and importers the chance to star rate their vehicles within India. The concept first originated in the USA, which was the pioneer in implementing a program to test car safety standards via crash tests.
Understanding Bharat NCAP
Bharat NCAP is a groundbreaking vehicle safety assessment program that proposes a ‘Star Ratings’ system based on the performance of individual vehicles in crash tests. Designed to surpass minimum regulatory requirements, the Bharat NCAP standard aligns with global benchmarks.
The upcoming Bharat NCAP assessment will allocate Star Ratings ranging from one to five stars. Testing for this program will be conducted at designated testing agencies equipped with the required infrastructure.
The application of Bharat NCAP will be on type-approved M1 category motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight under 3.5 tonnes, whether manufactured or imported into India. M1 category vehicles are passenger vehicles featuring eight seats, excluding the driver’s seat.
Relevance of Bharat NCAP
One significant advantage of the new regulations is that it introduces the concept of a safety rating for passenger cars, empowering consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. Besides improving structural and passenger safety in vehicles, Star Ratings based on Crash Tests will also enhance the exportability of Indian automobiles.
Furthermore, Bharat NCAP could be instrumental in advancing the Aatmanirbhar mission of the automobile industry, aiming to make India the world’s leading automobile hub.
Potential Challenges
Implementing large-scale testing necessitates a substantial budgetary support and extensive infrastructure. Most Indian cities have dedicated only 6-10% of their total land allocation to transport infrastructure construction (excluding Delhi, with about 20% allocated), resulting in inadequate transport infrastructure relative to population needs and requirements.
Moving Forward
To ensure success, the testing protocol should align with Global Crash Test Protocols while also considering existing Indian regulations. This would allow Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to test their vehicles at India’s own in-house testing facilities. Ultimately, a successful implementation of Bharat NCAP will lead to a safer and more informed automobile market in India.