What is Bharat NCAP and how it’s different from Global NCAP?

🚗 What Is Bharat NCAP?

Bharat NCAP (BNCAP) is India’s official vehicle safety assessment program, launched in October 2023. It evaluates how well cars protect occupants in crash scenarios and encourages manufacturers to enhance safety features.

Modeled on global NCAP protocols (like Euro NCAP, ASEAN NCAP)
Voluntary participation by automakers
Conducted by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH)

🧪 Crash Tests Conducted Under BNCAP

Test Type	Details
Frontal Offset Crash Test	64 km/h speed, 40% offset, into deformable barrier (like Euro NCAP)
Side Impact Crash Test	50 km/h lateral collision from a movable deformable barrier
Pole Side Impact (optional)	For cars with side/head airbags – test at 29 km/h into a rigid pole
Pedestrian Protection	Evaluated if the car offers features to minimize injury to pedestrians
ESC & Seatbelt Reminder Check	Mandatory for 5-star rating eligibility

⭐ Rating System Explained

Bharat NCAP provides two separate ratings:

Category	Scale	Minimum Required for 5 Stars
Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)	0–32 points	≥27 points
Child Occupant Protection (COP)	0–49 points	≥41 points

Ratings are shown using star symbols (★) — up to 5 stars each for AOP and COP.
To qualify for 5 stars, the car must also have:
- ESC (Electronic Stability Control) as standard or optional
- Seatbelt reminders for front occupants
- No structural penalties in crash test

🧰 How Cars Are Selected & Tested

Voluntary basis: Manufacturers nominate models for testing.
The car variant selected must be most basic variant with safety features offered across all trims.
Test cars are sourced from dealerships (not pre-prepared by OEMs) for credibility.

🛡️ Equipment & Safety Systems Considered

Safety Features Checked	Is It Required for Higher Ratings?
Dual front airbags	✅ Mandatory
ABS with EBD	✅ Mandatory
ESC (Electronic Stability Control)	✅ Required for 5 stars
Side & curtain airbags	🔁 Optional, but helps in scoring
ISOFIX child seat mounts	✅ For COP score
Seatbelt reminders	✅ For driver and front passenger

📏 Scoring Criteria (Adult Occupant Protection)

Body Region	Max Score Possible	Parameters
Head & Neck	8 points	Deceleration, movement
Chest	8 points	Load on ribs
Femur & Pelvis	8 points	Knee displacement
Lower Legs & Feet	8 points	Tibia compression, footwell

🔧 Differences from Global NCAP

Category	Bharat NCAP	Global NCAP
Regulation Basis	Indian CMVR & AIS standards	UN R94, R95 standards
Test Facilities	In India (CIRT Pune & others)	Multiple global labs
Vehicle Sourcing	Indian dealerships	Usually manufacturer-supplied
Mandate	Voluntary (for now)	Euro NCAP is mostly mandatory for sales in EU

📈 Why Bharat NCAP Matters

Increases consumer awareness around vehicle safety
Drives competition among OEMs to offer safer cars
Aligns India’s auto sector with global safety benchmarks
Affects resale value and insurance premiums positively for safer cars

🔍 Final Word

Bharat NCAP is a game-changer for Indian road safety. With more cars voluntarily undergoing tests and public awareness growing, it puts pressure on automakers to offer: