Gadkari Makes Key Announcement on Bharat NCAP

The government is planning to introduce ‘Bharat NCAP 2’ standards from October 2027 to further strengthen passenger safety in road accidents, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said. Speaking at SIAM’s 66th Annual Convention, Gadkari highlighted the progress made under Bharat NCAP, the country’s official vehicle safety assessment programme launched in 2023. He said the next phase would bring a comprehensive road-safety chain into effect. India witnesses around five lakh road accidents every year, resulting in nearly 1.80 lakh deaths, with people aged 18–36 accounting for a significant share of fatalities.

Meanwhile, Heavy Industries Secretary Kamran Rizvi said government incentives for electric vehicles could come to an end in the next few years and urged automakers to prepare for the transition. He called for greater industry participation in charging infrastructure and increased investment in research and development. SIAM President Shailesh Chandra said the automobile sector contributes more than ₹22.75 lakh crore to the Indian economy and accounts for 15% of the country’s GST collections. The industry sold 46 lakh passenger cars and 2.17 crore two-wheelers in 2025–26, he added.