Bharat NCAP: India’s First Car Crash Rating

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• The Transport Ministry has proposed a star rating mechanism to assess the crash safety of cars.
• The new Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), which proposes a mechanism of awarding 'Star Ratings' to automobiles based upon their performance in crash tests, will be rolled out from April 1, 2023.

About Bharat NCAP

• Bharat NCAP will be the new car safety assessment programme for cars that are produced and sold in India.
• The assessment programme proposes a mechanism for rewarding 'Star Ratings' to vehicles on the basis of their performance at a crash test facility. 
• The proposed assessment will rate by giving a star rating  of 1 to 5.

Key Features of New rating

• The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme will be applicable for all vehicles falling in M1 category that have a weight less than 3.5 tonnes and have a seating capacity of less than 9 occupants.
• Bharat NCAP rating will provide consumers an indication of the level of protection offered to occupants by evaluating the vehicle in the areas of -- adult occupant protection, child occupant protection and safety assist technologies.

• The testing protocol of Bharat NCAP shall be aligned with global crash-test protocols factoring in the existing.

Significance

• Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) will serve as a consumer-centric platform, allowing customers to opt for safer cars based upon their Star-Ratings.
• It will promote a healthy competition among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India to manufacture safer vehicles.
• Bharat NCAP will encourage manufacturers to participate voluntarily in the safety testing assessment programme and incorporate higher safety levels in new car models.
• The initiative is aimed at making mobility safer amid the country witnessing a total of 3,66,138 road accidents during the calendar year 2020, causing 1,31,714 deaths.