India is kicking car safety into top gear with Bharat NCAP 2.0: What you need to know
India is preparing to launch Bharat NCAP 2.0 in October 2027, expanding vehicle safety assessments beyond crash tests to include collision avoidance and post-accident safety. This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive safety benchmark for passenger vehicles in India.
Why it matters
It signals a significant shift in automotive safety standards and consumer protection in the Indian market.
Bharat NCAP 2.0, planned for October 2027, will look beyond what happens when a car crashes. The proposed system will examine the entire safety chain: from how a vehicle helps avoid a collision to how well it protects occupants, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, and what happens after an accident.Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari announced the proposed timeline at the SIAM Annual Convention in September 2026. The second phase is being planned as the first phase of Bharat New Car Assessment Programme, or Bharat NCAP, approaches the end of its current cycle.According to the ministry of road transport and highways’ draft AIS-197 Revision 1, the first phase of Bharat NCAP began on October 1, 2023 and is valid until September 30, 2027.
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