**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 3056 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 18th, 2025, regarding the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). The Minister of Road Transport and Highways provides details on the program's implementation, safety ratings, public awareness efforts, and assessment criteria. The Bharat NCAP became operational on October 1st, 2023.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Bharat NCAP Overview:**
* Bharat NCAP is India's official crash-test and vehicle safety rating program.
* It applies to the M1 category of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight up to 3,500 kg.
* The program launched in August 2023 as a voluntary initiative and became operational on October 1st, 2023.
* It aims to provide credible, transparent, and India-specific star-based safety ratings.
* Assessment benchmarks are in addition to prevailing statutory regulatory requirements.
* **Safety Ratings:**
* 27 safety ratings have been released under the program to date.
* Includes ratings for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP).
* The document includes a table listing Vehicle Make, Vehicle Model, AOP Rating, and COP Rating for 27 car models.
* **Crash Test Status:**
* Cars are currently tested on a voluntary basis as per the protocol AIS-197.
* **Public Awareness:**
* Safety ratings and star-ratings are accessible to the public.
* This allows consumers to compare car models based on crash performance.
* **Assessment Criteria:**
* Pedestrian Protection and Child Occupant Safety are already part of the current Bharat NCAP assessment protocol.
* Child Occupant Safety rating is awarded to each vehicle separately.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Car Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Car manufacturers are subject to the Bharat NCAP voluntary crash-testing program for their vehicles. Their vehicles receive safety ratings that can influence consumer choices.
* **Action Required:** Decide whether to voluntarily participate in the Bharat NCAP testing program and, if so, ensure their vehicles meet the safety standards to achieve favorable ratings.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** Consumers are provided with transparent and credible safety ratings for cars sold in India, enabling them to make informed purchase decisions based on crash performance.
* **Action Required:** Review Bharat NCAP safety ratings when considering a car purchase to prioritize vehicles with higher safety standards.
**Stakeholder: Government/Regulatory Bodies**
* **Impact:** The government has successfully established and launched a vehicle safety rating program (Bharat NCAP) that provides valuable information to consumers and promotes safer vehicles.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor and potentially revise the program protocols to ensure they remain relevant and effective in improving vehicle safety standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat NCAP: India's official crash-test and vehicle safety rating programme applicable to M1 category of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight up to 3,500 kg.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for the Bharat NCAP program.
AIS-197: The protocol used for testing cars under the Bharat NCAP program.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3056
ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2025
Bharat NCAP
3056. SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat
NCAP) and its implementation status;
(b) the number of car models that have been tested under this program
so far and their safety ratings;
(c) whether making these crash test ratings mandatory for all new car
models is under consideration, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the steps taken to increase public awareness about vehicle safety
features; and
(e) the plans to include pedestrian protection and child occupant
safety in the assessment criteria?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is India’s
official crash-test and vehicle safety rating programme applicable to
M1 category of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight up to 3,500 kg.
The programme was launched in August, 2023 as a voluntary initiative
and became operational from 1st October, 2023.The programme has been established as a comprehensive ecosystem
to provide credible, transparent, and India-specific star-based safety
ratings for cars sold in the country, enabling consumers to make
informed purchase decisions. The assessment benchmarks under
Bharat NCAP are in addition to the prevailing statutory regulatory
requirements.
(b) A total of 27 safety ratings have been released under the
programme till date.
Below are the Safety Ratings for the assessed vehicle models for Adult
Occupant Protection (AOP) and Child Occupant Protection (COP).
Sr. No. Vehicle Make Vehicle Model AOP COP
Rating Rating
1 TATA SAFARI 5 5
2 TATA HARRIER 5 5
3 TATA PUNCH.EV 5 5
4 TATA NEXON.EV 5 5
5 TATA NEXON 5 5
6 CITROEN BASALT 4 4
7 TATA CURVV 5 5
8 TATA CURVV.EV 5 5
9 Mahindra XUV 3XO 5 5
10 Mahindra XUV 400 EV 5 5
11 HYUNDAI TUCSON 5 5
12 Mahindra THAR ROXX 5 5
13 SKODA KYLAQ 5 5
14 Mahindra BE 6 5 5
15 Mahindra XEV 9e 5 516 KIA Syros 5 5
BALENO (2
17 MARUTI 4 4
Airbags)
BALENO (6
18 MARUTI 4 4
Airbags)
19 Maruti Dzire 5 5
20 Toyota Innova Hycross 5 5
21 TATA Harrier.EV 5 5
22 Maruti Victoris 5 5
23 Tata Altroz 5 5
24 Maruti Invicto 5 5
25 Citroen C3 Aircross 5 4
26 Honda Amaze 5 4
27 Maruti E Vitara 5 5
(c) Presently, under this programme, cars are tested on a voluntary
basis as per the protocol AIS-197.
(d) Publication of safety ratings and star-ratings are accessible to
public enabling consumers to compare car models based on crash
performance.
(e) Pedestrian Protection and Child Occupant Safety are already a
part of the current Bharat NCAP assessment protocol. Child Occupant
Safety rating is awarded to each vehicle separately.
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