Bharat New Car Assessment Programme

Why is in news? Shri Nitin Gadkari to launch the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)

The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways will launch the much-awaited Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) on 22nd August 2023.

This programme is a significant step forward in the Government’s commitment to improve road safety through raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.

The programme aims to provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market

About the BNCAP:

BNCAP would be the Indian adaptation of the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP).

It is a safety rating system for passenger cars.

The programme is expected to develop a safety sensitive car market in India.

The system would entail giving vehicles a star rating based on their performance in crash tests.

The voluntary programme aligns existing test regulations at home with global crash testing protocols.

The change is sought to be introduced by adding a new rule 126E dealing with the BNCAP to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

It would be applicable on M1 category of vehicles.

It is the passenger vehicles having not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and weighing less than 3.50 tonnes.

The vehicle must be imported or manufactured in the country.

Rating:

Bharat NCAP would assign vehicles between one and five stars.

Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase-decision.

It is expected that the demand for safer cars will increase, encouraging the car manufacturers to comply with customer needs.

Parameters:

Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)

Child Occupant Protection (COP) and

Safety Assist Technologies (SAT).

Significance:

With high safety standards, Indian cars will be able to compete better in the global market, increasing the export potential of the car manufacturers in India.

It will prove to be a critical instrument in making our automobile industry Aatmanirbhar.