Bharat NCAP Vinfast Event

16/05/2026

As the Designated Agency for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) leads the operational and technical governance of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP). This department is the cornerstone of India’s journey toward a self-reliant, safety-first automotive ecosystem.

Core Activities & Services

• Safety Rating & Certification: Rigorous evaluation of M1 category vehicles (up to 3,500 kg) based on the AIS-197 standard.
• Standardized Crash Testing: Coordination of comprehensive testing protocols, including:
  • Frontal Impact Test (ODB): 64 km/h
  • Side Impact Test: 50 km/h
  • Pole Side Impact Test: 29 km/h
• Holistic Evaluation: Comprehensive performance analysis across Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP), and Safety Assist Technologies (SAT).

Major Achievements

• National Rollout: Successfully operationalized a voluntary star-rating system (1 to 5 stars), creating a new benchmark for vehicle safety in the Indian market.
• Widespread Adoption: Successfully assessed over 33 vehicle models under the voluntary OEM submission framework. Total 11 OEMs volunteered for the program.
• Global Alignment: Harmonized Indian safety testing with international best practices, positioning BNCAP as a world-class assessment body.

Departmental Strengths

• Institutional Authority: Backed by CIRT’s 58 years of expertise in transport technology, homologation, and research.
• Absolute Neutrality: Operates as an independent, transparent technical body ensuring high-integrity safety data for Indian consumers.
• Strategic Impact: Directly contributing to the national goal of reducing road fatalities by incentivizing manufacturers to exceed minimum safety requirements.