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Everything You Need to Know About the Initiative Bharat NCAP

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Finally, the wait is over. The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) has now finally been introduced in India. It is a government-sponsored crash test programme for all passenger vehicles in India. It has been rolled out all over the country from October 1, 2023. According to the Automotive Industry Standard AIS 197, Bharat NCAP will give cars star ratings based on their safety performance in crash tests. It means Bharat NCAP ratings will play a major role in car assessment.

As part of the initiative, all new Indian-manufactured vehicles will be assessed based on the ultimate safety performance. Some stringent crash tests and safety evaluations will be conducted for ideal evaluation, structural integrity, child safety provisions, and occupant protection of the vehicles.

Currently, the Bharat NCAP is considered voluntary for car manufacturers, but very soon, almost every carmaker will participate in it. The programme is expected to improve the safety of cars in India and also help consumers choose safe and reliable cars besides riding and driving with more safety. According to 2021 reports, Over 1.5 lakh people died from road accidents in India. Therefore, it is expected that third party car insurance will also witness a major change with the expectation that this initiative will bring a change in road and car accidents.

In this blog, we will make a deep dive to explore what Bharat NCAP is, the facts of this initiative, and how it will positively impact the auto industry.

Bharat NCAP - An Overview

Bharat NCAP is an advanced and indigenous star-rating system that ensures the crash testing of cars and then gives ratings based on the final results. Under this new programme, automobile manufacturers can voluntarily nominate different cars for crash tests.

Under the Bharat NCAP, the crash tests will be performed as per protocols and also get laid down based on the soon-to-be-published Automotive Industry Standard 197. The programme also applies to passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats and a gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 3,500 kgs. Also, the base model of the particular variant of the car will be tested.

Ratings and Tests of Bharat NCAP

Different protocols are followed and measured in the program of Bharat NCAP crash test rating. This crash testing is simple and is followed by different global agencies. In India, only 40% of car owners have comprehensive insurance policies. So, it is expected that this testing not only improves the scenario of comprehensive car insurance but also helps in a star rating ranging from 1 and 5 Stars. Where 1 is considered the lowest and 5 is the highest. The crash tests also address three areas: Child Occupant Protection (COP), Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), and the Fitment of Safety Assist Technologies.

Furthermore, the Front Impact Test, Side Impact Test, and Side Pole Impact Test must be followed for the safety ratings assessment of the vehicles. The frontal crash test should be conducted at 64 kmph, while the pole side and side tests will be conducted at 29 kmph and 50 kmph, respectively.

Also, the ratings are assigned based on two different criteria, such as Adult safety for the front passengers and child safety at the rear. For adult safety, a car should score a minimum of 27 out of a maximum of 32 points to achieve the star ratings.

Which Vehicles Will Qualify in Bharat NCAP?

The only vehicles that are classified under the M1 category will be approved if they can carry up to at least eight occupants. Only those cars will be eligible to go through the popular Bharat NCAP rating. Moreover, all the eligible cars must have a total weight of 3.5 tonnes and be produced or brought into India. The new and innovative Bharat NCAP programme is also applicable to all the CNG and electric vehicles in India.

How Does Bharat NCAP Work?

According to the operating protocols, there are several steps and procedures followed in the Bharat NCAP programme. These include:

1. A voluntary nomination of the vehicle’s base model by the car manufacturer

2. Selection by random sampling by the Bharat NCAP team after visiting the facility of the manufacturer

3. Conveying the chosen vehicle to the testing centre in Pune. and performing the crash testing based on different protocols. The car manufacturer’s representatives can witness all these crash tests at the centre.

4. Test ratings will be disclosed following approval by the Bharat NCAP standing committee.

5. Publication of the results by Bharat NCAP. A certificate will also be provided by the CIRT (Central Institute of Road Transport).

Bharat NCAP vs Global NCAP

There is a claim that Bharat NCAP will be developed based on different testing and evaluation methods of Global NCAP. In India, there are still 57% of vehicles which are uninsured. So, the specific protocols will be followed keeping in mind the overall Indian perspective. The Global NCAP is also considered the main among all NCAPs, and it is also considered a private entity. On the other hand, Bharat NCAP will be held by the Government of India.

Regarding ratings, the Global NCAP easily expects a minimum of 34 points in crash tests. But with Bharat NCAP, cars need to score at least 27 points for AOP and 41 for COP to score a five-star rating.

The crash testing methods are also in line with Global NCAP. The Bharat NCAP has also adopted three different and advanced testing assessments: such as side impact test, offset deformable barrier frontal impact test, and also pole side impact test. Additionally, the installation of six airbags, three-pointer seatbelts, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), improved emergency braking system, etc., have also been mandated by the Bharat NCAP. However, based on testing speed, the Bharat NCAP impact assessment can also be conducted at a lower speed than the Global NCAP comparatively.

All these innovative approaches have been welcomed by leading car manufacturers such as Mahindra, Toyota, and Maruti Suzuki, who have made a bold step in the right direction.

Conclusion

The newly launched Bharat NCAP programme is a leading and welcome initiative with a concise and clear objective. Because of the Bharat NCAP ratings, consumers can easily make a more informed decision before finalising an excellent car rental and purchase.

As the increased demand for safer cars has been increasing in the country, the Bharat NCAP programme has emerged as a promising step to promote car insurance and road safety. Furthermore, it is also expected that the Bharat NCAP programme will help you to expand in the coming months as the required infrastructure will be developed properly to implement the ratings more effectively.

Last but not least, Bharat NCAP will prove to be used as an important instrument that will add a strong value to transform the industry into “Atmanirbhar” as India makes its steps towards becoming the world’s leading auto market.

FAQs

1. Is Bharat NCAP mandatory?

No, to date, there are no rules that the Bharat NCAP crash test is mandatory. However, it is a good initiative, and many car manufacturers are supporting this initiative by sending their cars for a proper assessment through the crash test.

2. What is Bharat NCAP based on?

Bharat NCAP follows different crash test norms. There are also several safety parameters based here. These include frontal, pole, and even side impact tests. There are also adult and child occupant protection tests to ensure safety.

3. What is the speed limit for Bharat NCAP?

For Bharat NCAP, the speed of 64km/h will be considered for the frontal crash test. On the other hand, 50km/h and 29km/h will be considered for the side and pole-side impact tests.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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