India’s car safety tests to go beyond cars: Gadkari

India plans to broaden its vehicle safety testing regime, with the government's Bharat NCAP programme receiving an expanded version starting in October 2027, according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The revamped Bharat NCAP 2.0 will scrutinize the complete "chain of crash," encompassing not just passenger safety but also crash avoidance, pedestrian protection, and post-crash evacuation and care. Presently, Bharat NCAP has certified over 30 models from 11 manufacturers.

In addition, the Indian government is implementing measures to modify driver behavior through a graded points system for driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates. Offenders could face license suspension or revocation after accumulating a certain number of points. Conversely, responsible drivers could receive incentives from insurance companies and other benefits. The government aims to encourage responsible driving while penalizing habitual offenders.

Furthermore, the government is partnering with the automobile industry to address the shortage of trained drivers. The ministry plans to establish 1,600 driving training centers under a policy launched in January 2025. As of now, 24 centers are operational, and 112 more are in the pipeline. Around 10 lakh drivers have been trained so far, with an expected annual capacity of 1.5 lakh drivers once all centers are operational.

The minister urged the automotive sector to contribute to driving training centers, vehicle fitness centers, and scrapping centers through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives or economically viable models.