Come October 1, car manufacturers can volunteer to get a star rating indicating the safety of their models in a crash, under an indigenous programme for testing.

The Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is modelled on the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP).

The new programme will be applicable to passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat with gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.

A rating from one star to five stars will be assigned to a vehicle after an evaluation of three parameters — adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, and safety assist technologies present in the car.

Bharat NCAP representatives will visit the manufacturing facility or a dealer outlet to select the base variant of the model through random sampling and send it to a testing centre in co-ordination with the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).

Once the test results are compiled, they will be approved by the Bharat NCAP Standing Committee and published on the website of the Bharat NCAP and a certificate issued by the CIRT.

The programme is voluntary except in certain cases such as a base variant of a popular vehicle model (minimum clocked sale of 30,000 units), or when the Ministry recommends a model for testing based on market feedback or in the interest of public safety.

Global NCAP is an independent nonprofit organization focused on improving road safety and reducing vehicle-related injuries and fatalities.

Global NCAP conducts crash tests on new vehicles to assess their safety performance, especially in terms of occupant protection during collisions.

They assign safety ratings based on the performance of the vehicles in these tests. These assessments help consumers make informed decisions about the safety of the cars they are considering purchasing.

One of the most notable aspects of Global NCAP's work is their focus on vehicles that are commonly sold in emerging markets, where safety standards might not be as stringent.

They aim to raise awareness about the importance of vehicle safety in these regions and encourage manufacturers to improve the safety features and design of their vehicles.

When considering purchasing a new car, looking at these safety assessments can provide valuable information about the vehicle's safety features, crashworthiness, and overall safety performance.

What is New Car Assessment Programme? Highlight its significance in the purchase of a new car.