Indian Government Introduced New Regulations For Bharat NCAP 2.0—to Be Implemented in October 2027

India’s automotive safety landscape is set for a dramatic transformation as the government readies Bharat NCAP 2.0, an upgraded crash test rating protocol to be implemented in October 2027. This move aims to address longstanding issues with vehicle safety on Indian roads, pushing manufacturers and consumers towards more robust protection standards.

The Bharat NCAP 2.0 draft policy introduces an enhanced framework designed to better reflect the realities of Indian road usage, especially for vulnerable users like pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. The policy’s emphasis on expanded testing and stricter requirements signals a new era of accountability for automakers and more reliable information for buyers.

Expanded Safety Assessment Pillars

Bharat NCAP 2.0 replaces the previous adult and child occupant protection focus with a comprehensive five-pillar assessment: Crash Protection (55%), Vulnerable Road User Protection (20%), Safe Driving (10%), Accident Avoidance (10%), and Post-Crash Safety (5%). Each category incorporates both mandatory and optional technologies, with the final star rating based on the total score out of 100 points.

New Rules For Crash Test

The revised protocol expands mandatory crash tests from three to five:

• 64 km/h offset frontal impact
• 50 km/h full-width frontal impact
• 50 km/h lateral impact with mobile barrier
• 32 km/h oblique side impact with a rigid pole
• 50 km/h rear impact with a mobile rigid barrier

​Advanced crash-test dummies, including male and female adults as well as children, will be used to gauge injuries across all seating positions. Head restraints and ISOFIX child seat anchors are now part of the evaluation.

New Regulations For Pedestrians and Motorcyclists

One of the most notable shifts is the weightage for vulnerable road user protection. Vehicles will undergo pedestrian leg, adult, and child headform impact tests, with an overall 20% rating weightage assigned to pedestrian and motorcyclist safety features. Optional assessments for Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) further incentivize automakers to prioritize active safety systems.

Mandatory Features

To be eligible for assessment, cars must come with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and side head curtain airbags as standard. Base variants will be tested, ensuring real-world relevance for buyers. Additional active safety tech, such as seat belt reminders, blind spot detection, driver drowsiness alerts, collision warnings, and lane departure warnings, factor into the scoring, but only five per vehicle may contribute points.

Accident avoidance technologies, including AEB and ESC, account for approximately 10% of the total score. While ESC is mandatory, AEB remains optional but advantageous for ratings.

Post-Crash Safety Gains Prominence

Stricter Star Rating Criteria and Timelines

Conclusion