India is Working on its own Car Safety Assessment Program

The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) will be India's first Automobile Safety Organization. The Bharat NCAP has been in the works for some time and is expected to be announced in the coming months by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). According to the Economic Times, the MoRTH will issue a draught notification within the next few months. "If they want, they can do it in one month," a source close to the situation told ET.

Bharat NCAP is expected to be led by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), with the MoRTH providing guidance. CIRT is a central government agency headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra. Bharat NCAP is expected to test cars in accordance with the protocols established by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP). Global NCAP is a UK-based charity that has elevated car safety in India through its regular reports, including the first report in 2014.

The 2014 report was eye-opening, as all five vehicles tested received zero stars. “Our protocols are public. Anyone can take them. In fact, we made them public so that manufacturers can take them and develop their cars accordingly”, said Alejandro Furas, secretary general, Global NCAP.