The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) is India’s own method for assessing the crashworthiness of new cars. In 2022, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced its debut. The Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash test standards serve as the foundation for the BNCAP.
History of Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP)
A Bharat NCAP was initially suggested in 2014 in response to a string of prominent traffic incidents in India. A committee was established by the MoRTH in 2016 to investigate if an NCAP might be established in India. The committee’s report, which was submitted in 2017, suggested that an NCAP with a star grading system be created.
The government has now given the go-ahead for the 2023 launch of Bharat NCAP. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is running the program.
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How does Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) work?
BNCAP assesses the crash safety performance of passenger cars in three areas:
- Adult occupant protection (AOP): This measures the protection offered to adult occupants in frontal and side-impact crashes.
- Child occupant protection (COP): This measures the protection offered to child occupants in frontal and side-impact crashes.
- Safety assist technologies (SAT): This measures the presence of safety features such as airbags, ABS, and ESC.
Each area is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest rating. The overall star rating for a vehicle is the average of the three area scores.
Also Read: Top 5 Safest Cars in India with Global NCAP Rating
Benefits of BNCAP
BNCAP is expected to have a number of benefits, including:
- Increased safety of passengers in road accidents.
- Increased awareness of safety features among consumers.
- Increased competition among manufacturers to offer safer cars.
- Lower insurance premiums for safer cars.
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Is Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) voluntary for car brands?
Yes, it’s a voluntary program.
Because BNCAP is a voluntary program, automakers are not required to take part. However, according to the MoRTH, it anticipates that all of India’s major automakers would take part in the initiative.
The government has also stated that if it determines that the program is improving the safety of passenger automobiles in India, it may one day consider making BNCAP mandatory.
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When and how Bharat NCAP will be implemented?
The government aims to implement the program from October 1, 2023
The program is being put into action in stages.
First Phase
The testing will only be carried out on passenger vehicles that have received government-type approval. All passenger automobiles sold in India would be subjected to testing during the second phase.
Second Phase
Bharat NCAP deployment is currently in the planning phases. It is, nevertheless, likely to feature the following:
- The tests would be carried out on all passenger automobiles sold in India, regardless of whether they are government-approved.
- The testing will be carried out on a broader range of vehicles, such as SUVs, MPVs, and vans.
- The testing will be more demanding, and automobiles must have at least two airbags and ABS.
- The test results will be more clearly posted on vehicle dealership websites and in online listings.
The second phase of Bharat NCAP is expected to be implemented in 2024.
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Benefits of the second phase of Bharat NCAP:
- It will help to improve the safety of all passenger cars sold in India.
- It will provide consumers with a more comprehensive and informative assessment of the crash safety performance of cars.
- It will help to increase competition among manufacturers to offer safer cars.
- It will lead to lower insurance premiums for safer cars.
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If there is a positive impact on the safety of passenger cars in India there is the possibility that the government may consider making Bharat NCAP mandatory in the future. With the second phase of Bharat NCAP is expected to help improve the safety of passenger cars in India. It will provide consumers with an objective and independent assessment of the crash safety performance of cars, and it will help to increase competition among manufacturers to offer safer cars.
