NEW DELHI: The Indian government is set to implement the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) on October 1st. This initiative mirrors the Global NCAP and European NCAP, aiming to assess the safety of new vehicles through crash tests and assign them star ratings based on their performance.

Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, introduced the program on Tuesday, marking a significant day for both the automobile industry and society. He emphasized that India witnesses over five lakh accidents annually, leading to 1.5 lakh fatalities. The Bharat NCAP is envisioned as a solution to address these alarming statistics. Furthermore, Gadkari expressed that the program will open doors for the Indian automobile industry to enter the export market, bolstered by competitive costs and quality standards.

While aligning with global crash test protocols and considering existing Indian regulations, the testing methodology of Bharat NCAP is anticipated to be established. Presently, conducting crash tests on vehicles is not obligatory, but some companies have voluntarily subjected certain models to testing at NCAP-accredited facilities in Europe. With the introduction of Bharat NCAP, such tests could be conducted domestically at significantly reduced expenses.

The introduction of a country-specific NCAP will contribute to the localization of safety components, prompting the manufacture and adoption of safer vehicles. Although crash testing might begin as a voluntary endeavor, there is potential for regulations to become more stringent as testing capabilities expand over time.

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