‘Six Airbags Mandatory In Cars For 5-Star Rating In Bharat NCAP Tests': Nitin Gadkari

The NCAP crash test has been introduced in India as the Bharat NCAP test, which is a global safety test of cars. The B-NCAP crash test ratings will come into effect from October 1, 2023. Cars tested under the programme will bear the Bharat NCAP logo and a sticker denoting its rating.

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As the implementation of the Bharat NCAP is just around the corner, the buzz around mandatory airbags in cars has picked up pace. Union Minister of Road, Highways and Transport Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced that six airbags won’t be necessary in all cars, retracting from his earlier remarks where he had said that all cars in India will not have six airbags.

Gadkari's remarks created a buzz in the automotive industry with industry leaders welcoming the move. The minister, however, at the ACMA Convention on Thursday said that even though six airbags aren’t mandatory in all cars, it is essential for cars to have six airbags in order to receive a 5-star rating in the Bharat NCAP tests.

"There's no need for a law to make this mandatory because carmakers are already offering it to attract customers. Companies with six airbags are doing well in the market, while those without them are struggling with sales," Nitin Gadkari said at the convention.

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Nitin Gadkari proposed a draft notification in January 2022 to make six airbags mandatory in all new cars, but it faced strong resistance from the industry, especially India's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, which expressed concerns about affordability for its entry-level models. Due to industry opposition and a lack of preparedness, the regulation was not implemented.

What is Bharat NCAP?

In India, it is already mandatory for new cars to have two airbags, one for the driver and one for the front passenger. The Bharat New Car Assessment Program (Bharat NCAP or B-NCAP) encourages car manufacturers to include six airbags in their models to achieve the highest safety ratings. This program enables automakers to submit their vehicles for testing under Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. The test results help consumers make informed choices when purchasing a car, contributing to a reduction in road accidents.