Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) in New Delhi, aiming to improve road safety by raising vehicle safety standards for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India. This initiative empowers consumers to choose safer cars and encourages competition among OEMs for safer manufacturing. The program, starting from October 1, 2023, based on Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197, aims to enhance vehicle safety awareness and provide crash test performance information to consumers. The voluntary program promotes the creation of safer vehicles, aligning with global safety standards, and is anchored by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).