New Car Safety Rules May Make Six Airbags Common in Indian Cars

About a year ago, the Indian government said that all cars in India should have six airbags for safety. Now, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari suggests that car companies can avoid this rule if their cars pass a special safety test.

Car Safety Assessment Program:

There's a new safety test called Bharat NCAP. If a car passes this test with flying colours, it will automatically have six airbags. In other words, carmakers will need to add six airbags to get the best safety rating for their cars.

Choice for Car Buyers:

Now, people are more careful about safety. If a car has six airbags, people might prefer to buy it. But it's not a must; it's up to the car companies and the buyers to decide.

Current Airbag Rules:

Right now, Indian rules say that all cars must have at least two airbags. These two airbags are for the driver and the front-seat passenger. Smaller cars usually have only these two airbags because there isn't enough space for more. Adding more airbags also makes cars more expensive.

Cost of Adding More Airbags:

The government thinks adding four more airbags would cost around ₹6,000 more. But some experts say it could be as much as ₹19,000 more.

In simpler terms, the government wants cars to be safer by having more airbags, but they're leaving it up to the car companies to decide whether to add them or not, as long as their cars pass a tough safety test.