The government is preparing the second phase of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme, or Bharat NCAP, from October 2027, with plans to widen vehicle assessment beyond crash protection to areas including crash avoidance, pedestrian safety and post-crash response, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
Gadkari said the existing Bharat NCAP programme has also sharply reduced the cost and time required for vehicle safety testing in India.
“Up till now, we have 30 plus models certified from 11 companies,” Gadkari said during an interaction with SIAM President Shailesh Chandra at the 66th SIAM Annual Convention.
According to figures cited by the minister, testing under international NCAP programmes costs around Rs 2.5 crore per model, compared with about Rs 60 lakh under Bharat NCAP.
“So, 75 percent lesser testing cost,” Gadkari said.
He added that the lower cost has also led some foreign companies to send vehicles to India for testing.
Bharat NCAP 2 to widen safety assessment
The government is now working on Bharat NCAP 2, which Gadkari said is planned from October 2027.
“We are going ahead for making Bharat NCAP 2. This is very important program. Valid from October 2027,” he said.
The next phase is expected to assess a wider range of safety parameters rather than focus only on how vehicles protect occupants during a crash.
Gadkari identified four broad areas: avoiding a crash, protecting passengers, pedestrian protection, and post-crash evacuation and care.
“We are going to evaluate the entire crash chain,” he said.
The ministry will also look at new safety technologies available globally as well as solutions being developed by Indian start-ups.
Gadkari invited vehicle manufacturers to submit suggestions based on their research, technical experience and safety practices followed in other markets.
“If you have any good suggestions, don't hesitate, come to us,” he said. “Whatever the good things and good suggestions from your side, we are ready to accept that.”
Bharat NCAP helping exports
Gadkari also linked Bharat NCAP with improvements in the global perception of vehicles manufactured in India.
He said stronger and more standardised safety assessment had helped improve the quality credentials of Indian vehicles at a time when automotive exports are expanding.
“Because of Bharat NCAP, the way in which we standardize the product… in the export market, we are getting very good and positive response because of good quality,” Gadkari said.
He added that credibility and product quality are increasingly important as Indian vehicle makers seek a larger presence in international markets.
The minister said India's automobile industry has the potential to eventually become the world's largest, supported by improvements in quality, innovation, research and competitive pricing.
Road safety remains a concern
The push to expand Bharat NCAP comes as Gadkari continues to press the automotive industry to improve vehicle and road safety.
He described road accidents as one of India's major challenges and said the government is working on several measures covering vehicles, driver behaviour and post-crash response.
“At any cost, we have to reduce the accident numbers,” he said.
Apart from the next phase of Bharat NCAP, Gadkari said the ministry is considering a graded points system for driving licences, under which repeat traffic offences could eventually result in suspension or cancellation of a licence.
He also sought greater participation from vehicle manufacturers in expanding driver-training infrastructure and improving safety standards across the transport ecosystem.