Bharat NCAP 2.0: New Car Safety Rules To Take Effect From October 2027, Gadkari Says
New Delhi, 4th September 2026: India is set to introduce the next phase of its vehicle safety assessment programme, with Bharat NCAP 2.0 planned for rollout from October 2027, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said at the 66th SIAM Annual Convention.
The upgraded programme will expand safety assessment beyond conventional crash protection and examine the broader vehicle safety chain.
The proposed Bharat NCAP 2.0 framework will assess vehicles on a 100-point system across five areas. Crash protection will account for 55 points, vulnerable road user protection for 20 points, safe driving features for 10 points, accident avoidance for 10 points and post-crash safety for five points.
The new framework is expected to place greater emphasis on technologies that can help prevent accidents, along with pedestrian and two-wheeler safety. Features such as electronic stability control, curtain airbags, autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure warning systems are expected to play a larger role in the assessment.
The crash-testing process is also set to become more comprehensive, with proposed additions including full-width frontal, rear-impact and oblique-pole tests.
The criteria for achieving a five-star rating are also expected to become tougher. Under the proposed framework, vehicles would need to score at least 70 out of 100 for a five-star rating during the initial period, with the threshold proposed to increase to 80 points from 2029. A vehicle scoring zero in any of the five safety categories would also not qualify for five stars.
Gadkari said Bharat NCAP has helped raise vehicle safety standards in India, while the government now plans to broaden the programme to address road safety more comprehensively. The detailed framework remains subject to the final rules ahead of the planned October 2027 rollout.
