Bharat NCAP 2.0: New Safety Tests To Begin From October 2027

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is set to be expanded under its second phase, with the government planning to bring the broader vehicle safety chain within its scope from October 2027.

Speaking at the SIAM Annual Convention 2026, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said Bharat NCAP 2.0 would go beyond the current crash-test framework. The proposed programme will assess areas including crash avoidance, passenger protection, pedestrian safety, as well as evacuation and care following an accident.

Gadkari said the revised framework would also take into account new safety technologies developed internationally and by Indian startups. He invited the automotive industry to submit suggestions on technologies and practices that could potentially be incorporated into the expanded programme.

Bharat NCAP has certified over 30 models

According to Gadkari, more than 30 vehicle models from 11 manufacturers have so far been certified under the existing Bharat NCAP programme.

The minister also highlighted the difference in testing costs. He said testing a model under Bharat NCAP costs around Rs. 60 lakhs, compared with approximately Rs. 2.5 crores under Global NCAP.

The proposed expansion would therefore increase the areas assessed under the programme while also allowing newer safety technologies to be considered as part of vehicle evaluations.

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