India has taken a significant step towards enhancing vehicle safety with the launch of its first car-safety rating program, the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). This program, which came into effect on 1st October, is modeled after the Global NCAP but tailored to meet the unique safety standards of the Indian market. A key feature of this program is the initiation of crash tests for over three dozen cars, scheduled to begin on 15th December.

The primary objective of the Bharat NCAP is to evaluate and rate vehicles based on three crucial aspects: adult occupant protection (AOP), child occupant protection (COP), and safety assist technologies (SAT). While these safety ratings are not mandatory, they are expected to play a vital role in guiding consumers towards making safer vehicle choices while simultaneously incentivizing car manufacturers to prioritize safety in their designs.

Tata Motors has taken the lead as the first company to apply for the Bharat NCAP rating. Their newly launched models, the Harrier and Safari facelifts, will be among the first vehicles to undergo the rigorous crash testing. Furthermore, other prominent car manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, have each selected three models for testing, while Mahindra is set to submit four of their models for assessment.

Bharat NCAP will be executed by designated agencies appointed by the Indian government. These agencies will assign star ratings to vehicles on a scale from zero to five, based on their performance in the comprehensive crash tests.

However, it's worth noting that some European car manufacturers, such as Renault, Skoda, Volkswagen, and the Stellantis Group, have not rushed to get their cars safety-rated under Bharat NCAP just yet. While some companies are still deliberating on which models they will submit for safety ratings, others argue that their vehicles already possess safety ratings from Global NCAP, and therefore may not immediately require Bharat NCAP ratings.

The responsibility of conducting these vital crash tests has been entrusted to government testing agencies, which include the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), and Global Automotive Research (GAR), among others. These agencies will ensure that the tests are carried out comprehensively and accurately.