Bharat NCAP: Revving Up Car Safety in India

Launched in August 2023, Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) is India’s official program to assess and rate the safety performance of cars sold in the country. Similar to other NCAP programs around the world, Bharat NCAP uses a star rating system, with five stars representing the highest level of safety.

Why Bharat NCAP Matters

Prior to Bharat NCAP, India lacked a robust car safety assessment program. This meant that car safety relied heavily on manufacturer claims, and there was no independent verification of a car’s ability to protect occupants in a crash. Bharat NCAP aims to change this by providing consumers with crucial information to make informed car buying decisions.

How Bharat NCAP Works

Bharat NCAP assesses car safety through a series of stringent crash tests. These tests evaluate a car’s performance in different collision scenarios, including:

• Frontal offset crash test: This simulates a head-on collision with a deformable barrier at high speed.
• Side impact test: This test replicates a T-bone collision where another vehicle hits the side of the car.
• Pole side impact test: This assesses how a car protects occupants in a collision with a stationary object like a tree.

In addition to crashworthiness, Bharat NCAP also evaluates the presence and functionality of safety features like airbags, seatbelts, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

Benefits of Bharat NCAP

The implementation of Bharat NCAP has several potential benefits for Indian car buyers and the automotive industry as a whole:

• Empowered Consumers: With safety ratings readily available, consumers can prioritize safety when choosing a car.
• Safer Cars: Manufacturers are incentivized to prioritize safety features in their cars to achieve a higher Bharat NCAP rating.
• Reduced Road Fatalities: Improved car safety can lead to a significant reduction in road accidents and fatalities in India.

Getting Started with Bharat NCAP

As Bharat NCAP is a relatively new program, there are currently a limited number of cars that have been tested and rated. However, you can find the latest information on tested car models, their safety ratings, and the program itself by visiting the official Bharat NCAP website (https://www.bharatncap.co/).