Coming Soon: Stricter Bharat NCAP Crash Test Norms
The government has proposed a major overhaul of the Bharat NCAP car safety programme, expanding the number of mandatory crash tests from three to five and widening the assessment criteria. The new Bharat NCAP 2.0 framework, expected to come into effect from October 2027, will make it harder for cars to earn a five-star rating.
Under the revised protocol, a vehicle's rating will be based on performance across five areas instead of the current focus on adult and child occupant protection and basic safety assist features. The new areas are crash protection, vulnerable road user protection, safe driving technologies, accident-avoidance systems and post-crash safety.
According to the draft notification for AIS 197 Revision 1, the updated norms will apply after the current Bharat NCAP guidelines expire on 20 September 2027. Crash performance will still carry the most weight at 55 percent of the total score, but manufacturers will no longer be able to depend on crash worthiness alone to secure high scores.
Vulnerable road user protection has been given 20 percent weightage, while safe driving technologies and accident-avoidance systems will contribute 10 percent each. Post crash safety makes up the remaining 5 percent. The intention is to encourage improvements not only in how a vehicle behaves in a crash but also in how it helps avoid accidents and protect people outside the vehicle.
More Crash Tests, More Realistic Scenarios
Bharat NCAP 2.0 increases the number of mandatory crash tests from three to five. The new test set will include a 64 kmph offset frontal impact, a 50 kmph full width frontal impact, a 50 kmph lateral mobile barrier test, a 32 kmph oblique pole side impact and a 50 kmph mobile rigid rear impact test. Injury assessments for adults and children will use advanced crash test dummies.
The full frontal and rear impact tests are key additions compared to the current protocol. At present, Bharat NCAP tests include a front offset crash, a side crash and a side pole crash. The new full width frontal test simulates a head on collision where the entire front of the car is involved, while the rear impact test examines whiplash protection, fuel system safety and the safety of rear seat occupants.
For vulnerable road user protection, which carries 20 percent of the score, the vehicle's front end will be tested for pedestrian leg protection and head impact mitigation for both adults and children. Optional tests will evaluate autonomous emergency braking responses for pedestrians and motorcyclists.
Electronics, Accident Avoidance And Post Crash Safety
Safe driving technologies will contribute 10 percent to the overall score. Features considered here include seat belt reminders, blind spot detection, driver drowsiness alerts, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings and traffic sign recognition. Manufacturers can fit more than five such technologies, but points will be awarded for a maximum of five systems.
Accident avoidance, also weighted at 10 percent, focuses mainly on electronic stability control and autonomous emergency braking. ESC will be mandatory for any model that wants a Bharat NCAP star rating. AEB will remain voluntary, but cars fitted with it can gain additional points.
Post crash safety, which carries 5 percent, will look at how the vehicle protects occupants after an impact. This includes checks for fire risk and electrical safety, as well as how easy it is for rescue teams to reach occupants. Optional features such as multi collision braking, SOS emergency call systems and rescue sheets can improve the score further.
To even qualify for Bharat NCAP 2.0 testing, vehicles will need ESC and side head protection devices, such as curtain airbags, as standard. This is a clear step up from the current baseline requirements and will push manufacturers to include more equipment on all variants, not just top trims.
Higher Scores Needed For Five Stars
The scoring ladder is also set to tighten over time. For a five-star rating, a vehicle will need at least 70 points out of 100 between 2027 and 2029. From 2029 to 2031, the bar will rise to 80 points. This means a car that qualifies for five stars in the early phase may need upgrades later to retain that rating as thresholds move up.
So far, 24 vehicles have been evaluated under Bharat NCAP since its launch in October 2023. Test infrastructure for Bharat NCAP 2.0 is ready, as confirmed by the International Centre for Automotive Technology. For buyers, the revised norms will eventually translate into safer cars that offer stronger crash protection, better electronic safety aids and more attention to what happens after an accident.