BNCAP 2.0 to Launch Next Year: How Will New Car Safety Standards Be Evaluated?

UdaipurTimes, September 2206 |  Government News Updates: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the process of complying with the Bharat NCAP 2.0 safety standard in the country may start from October next year. Gadkari made this comment at the 66th SIAM Annual Convention. He said that as a result of BNCAP (Bharat New Car Assessment Programme), not only has the safety defects of the cars manufactured in the country improved, but also the reliability of cars made in India in the domestic and foreign markets has increased to a large extent.

At the convention, Gadkari said that after the overwhelming success of BNCAP, the government has decided to launch BNCAP 2.0 from October 2027. Gadkari said that this decision has been taken to further strengthen the safety of road transport in the country. Incidentally, BNCAP is a type of testing system, based on which the safety rating of cars is given.

Evaluation based on which points?

Gadkari gave details about which aspects of the car will be given importance in BNCAP 2.0. He said that each car model will be evaluated on the basis of 100 marks. The car models will be tested on five aspects – Crash Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, Safe Driving, Accident Avoidance and Post-Crash Safety. Out of this, 55% marks will be allotted for Crash Protection, 20% for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 20% for Safe Driving and Accident Avoidance both in total — and 5% for Post-Crash Safety.

In addition, Electronic Stability Control and Airbags will be made mandatory for all cars in BNCAP 2.0. In addition, if there are driver assist features like AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and Lane Departure Warning, then the car will get a higher safety rating, said Gadkari.

The Union Transport Minister said that the eligibility criteria for safety ratings will also be increased. He said that to get a 5-star safety rating, the car model will have to get at least 70 out of 100 in the BNCAP test. He also said that this standard will be increased to 80 out of 100 from 2029. In addition, to get a 5-star safety rating, cars must pass all five of the areas on which they will be tested. If a vehicle gets a zero in any one of them, that vehicle cannot be given a 5-star safety rating, the Transport Minister said.