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Bharat NCAP
What it is
India's own crash-test rating programme, launched Aug 2023 by MoRTH under AIS 197. Manufacturers volunteer models for frontal offset at 64 kmph, side barrier at 50 kmph and optional pole impact, earning 0-5 stars separately for adult and child occupant protection
Five stars needs 27 of 32 points on adult and 41 of 49 on child protection. Over 30 models have been rated
Impact on industries
- Turns safety into a purchase criterion rather than a compliance item - 5-star ratings are now decisive in the Rs 10-20 lakh band where competition is densest
- Content pull-through for suppliers: six airbags, ESC, ISOFIX and structural reinforcement become standard fitment rather than top-variant options
- Domestic testing replaces reliance on Global NCAP, giving Indian-specification vehicles a locally credible benchmark and manufacturers a marketing asset
- Voluntary participation means unrated models simply stay unrated, and the cost of engineering to 5 stars falls hardest on entry-level products where price sensitivity is greatest