Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, <keyword id="26680" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nitin-gadkari" source="Orion">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> on Tuesday launched <keyword id="3367686" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bharat-ncap" source="Orion">Bharat NCAP</keyword>, India's own crash testing safety programme, saying that it was a historic day for the country and that requests have been received for crash testing of 30 models. Addressing a gathering following the launching of Bharat NCAP, <keyword id="6361025" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gadkari" source="Orion">Gadkari</keyword> said: "Today is a very important day in the history of Indian automobile industry but even also it is important for the society. I really appreciate the way in which the Indian automobile industry cooperates and because of their cooperation today it is a time for all of us that we are launching the Bharat NCAP programme." Regarding the programme, the Minister said: "It was a mission of the government. Cost of testing from abroad is Rs 2.5 crore and in India under the Bharat NCAP it is Rs 60 lakhs. And with global standards your market is going to increase. I am really happy that it is helpful for the consumers. By the star rating people can understand the quality of the product and now we are going to create awareness in the mind of the people." He also said that there is a huge demand for higher star rating vehicles. "People are cautious about safety, pollution. People want to use different type of fuel. If anywhere there is a new alternative available then they are ready to use," he said. "Today we have got a request to test and certify 30 models from several manufacturers. We have received 30 vehicles for the rating under Bharat NCAP and I am happy with the response." Gadkari also highlighted that India is facing two important challenges -- one is road accidents and another is air pollution, and "in some way our Ministry is responsible for that". He said that every year 5 lakh accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths takes place in India. "Every day 1,100 accidents and 400 deaths and every hour 47 accidents and 18 deaths. 70 per cent death is of 18 to 34 years and loss of GDP is 3.14 per cent." He also said head on collisions killed 27,000 people, while 18,000 died due to side collisions. Emphasising on saving lives, Gadkari said that "this is the time we have highest priority for how we can save the lives of the people and road safety is the most important thing for that". "But it is not that only the automobile industry is responsible, somewhere road engineering is a big problem." The Minister further said that at the same time the other important factor is automobile engineering. But these are the things we need to improve. He also said that now the market is not only cost-centric but quality centric. "Now the most important thing which I feel is that the market, the market is not cost centric, but it quality centric. The automotive market in India has been changing lately with consumer's focus shifting from being cost-centric to quality-centric," he said. He also said that "our dream is to make Indian Automobile industry above Rs 15 lakh crore". "When I had taken charge as the Minister, our industry in the world was at number seven. Now just two to three months before we have surpassed Japan and now are at number three. First is China and second is US." Gadkari also said that many of the Indian brands of two wheelers are already exporting 50 per cent of their production and there is also a lot of technologically changes particularly in the form of using different type of fuels. "I am very sure about it that as far as cost is concerned we are very very competitive in the world and in the quality point of view if you are equal to that anywhere whatever the cost maybe in US even I am confident that a day will come that we will be equally reasonable with China also and day will come that people will prefer cost wise and quality wise that they will prefer our vehicle first," he said, adding that for that reason there is huge potential available for the export. "The dream of Prime Minister (<keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword>) to make India a 5 trillion economy is the basic backbone of the automobile industry, which is one of the largest employers, biggest export and biggest tax payer sector for the government. This industry is giving maximum GST to the state and the Central government. He also asserted that the mission is to make India number one in manufacturing hub in the world." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/how-to-find-unclaimed-bank-deposits-using-udgam-portal/articleshow/102830161.cms">Have unclaimed bank deposits? Here’s how to find it using UDGAM portal</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-pc-market-declines-for-fourth-consecutive-quarter-reports-15-decline/articleshow/102822733.cms">Indian PC market declines for fourth consecutive quarter, reports 15% decline</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/gboard-checkout-upcoming-features-of-google-app/articleshow/102649444.cms">Gboard to onboard AI for stickers, proofreading and more</a>

Nitin Gadkari launches Bharat NCAP, India's car crash test programme

<ul><li>More than seven in 10 Indians will look at the safety rating of a car before marking their next purchase, finds a LocalCircles survey.</li><li>One in four will look at upgrading their vehicle if their <keyword id="18533333" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="current-vehicle" source="Orion">current vehicle</keyword> doesn’t meet the prescribed mark.</li><li><keyword id="3367686" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="bharat-ncap" source="Orion">Bharat NCAP</keyword> ratings was launched by <keyword id="26680" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="nitin-gadkari" source="Orion">Nitin Gadkari</keyword> earlier this week and will be rolled out from October 1.</li></ul> The average car buyer in India has rarely cared about safety standards, while making a purchase. This was because safety benchmarks were not spelt out. Armed with better information and regulatory changes, Indians are more aware and discerning. A survey by LocalCircles has found that more than seven in 10 Indians will look at the safety rating of a car before marking their next purchase. Moreover, one in four will look at upgrading their vehicle if their current vehicle doesn’t meet the prescribed mark. Earlier this week, on August 22, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/gadkari-launches-bharat-ncap-indias-car-crash-test-programme/articleshow/102942949.cms">Nitin Gadkari launched</a> Bharat NCAP, India's own crash testing safety programme, saying that requests have already been received for crash testing of 30 models. He pointed out there is a huge demand for higher star rating vehicles. "People are cautious about safety, pollution. People want to use different types of fuel. If anywhere there is a new alternative available then they are ready to use," Gadkari said. The LocalCircles survey, which received over 24,000 responses from citizens across the country, found that 72% of consumers who plan to buy a new car in the next three years indicated that they “would want to know” the safety star or B-NCAP rating of different cars available in the market. According to a report by insurance firm Acko, a look at the current safety rating of cars sold in India shows that foreign manufacturers like Volkswagen and Skoda score highly on global safety standards (Global NCAP Rating 2023). Amongst Indian OEMs, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra and Tata Motors score in the top five with Scorpion N and Punch respectively. From Maruti, the Brezza makes it to the top-20 list. The next question which arises is that once a consumer gets to know that the safety rating of the current car is low, what is the likely response going to be. The survey received 11,858 responses on this question with 48% of car owners stating that if the B-NCAP safety star rating of their car comes out to be low, they are likely to “ensure speed and safety belt compliance when on the high speed roads/ highways". Interestingly, more than a quarter, 28% to be precise, indicated that they would “upgrade to a car with higher safety star rating. 8% indicated that they would “avoid usage of the car on high-speed roads/ highways. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bharat NCAP at a glance" text="Bharat NCAP at a glance">Bharat NCAP at a glance</cmsannotation> Lower cost of testing: Gadkari pointed out at the launch that manufacturers will only need to spend ₹60 lakh per car instead of the ₹2.5 crore required for testing in Europe. Rating: The crash tests will evaluate vehicle safety performance and award ratings from 0 to 5 stars, as is the international norm. Standard: Bharat NCAP will crash-test cars according to the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. Test details: Three tests will be conducted - frontal, side and side pole impact. The evaluation will cover Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and Fitment of Safety Assist Technologies. For 3-star and above: The car must have front seat belt reminder and electronic stability control fitted.

Safety top priority now for Indian car buyers, existing owners may upgrade if ratings are low

Auto majors Mahindra &amp; Mahindra, <keyword id="44883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="Orion">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> and <keyword id="6374528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="toyota" source="Orion">Toyota</keyword> have termed the upcoming Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) as a bold step in the right direction for the domestic industry. While welcoming the initiative, the <keyword id="6368404" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="automakers" source="Orion">automakers</keyword> noted that it would encourage the production of safer cars in the country. "We at Mahindra believe it is one of the bold steps by the Ministry of road transport and we welcome the implementation of Bharat NCAP," Mahindra &amp; Mahindra President, Automotive Technology and Product Development Velusamy R told PTI. This initiative of MoRTH will generate equal opportunities and create healthy competition among <keyword id="163194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OEMs" source="Orion">OEMs</keyword> to make safer models for Indian customers, he added. "It is also expected that the government should give some benefits to OEMs that make safer cars to encourage them to continue to do so. This will encourage OEMs to make their cars much safer and offer them to Indian customers at reasonable prices," Velusamy R stated. Maruti Suzuki India Executive Officer (Corporate Affairs) Rahul Bharti said the auto major supports the initiative. "In principle, the customer information and empowering the customer through authentic information is always a positive and welcome step, so Maruti Suzuki will support it," he noted. The government has issued a draft notification on the BNCAP which proposes awarding 'Star Ratings' to automobiles based on their performance in crash tests. The government aims to implement the programme from October 1, 2023. "We believe that Bharat-NCAP is a step in the right direction. While the industry has been proactively pushing for new benchmark safety standards, there is also a growing awareness amongst customers for better safety features which has put further impetus on advancements and introduction of newer norms in the country," a Toyota Kirloskar Motor spokesperson said. While most of the OEMs are already following high standards depending on the choice of customers, the introduction of B-NCAP will enable further greater transparency to help in achieving the highest standards of safety, the spokesperson added. Taking a similar line, Skoda Auto India Brand Director Petr Solc also appreciated that the Indian Government is putting greater emphasis on safety regulations and policies that improve car safety. "Safety is an important aspect and active and passive safety features, along with the structure of the car keep the driver and their family safe. Skoda will continue focusing on safety to further grow the brand in the Indian market," he added. Tata Motors had stated that it has always supported the government's move in safe mobility and will continue to do so in the future as well. When asked about the initiative, Kia India MD and CEO Tae-Jin Park said the move is good for the Indian automotive industry. The company has analysed the notification and is working towards it, he added. Under the BNCAP, manufacturers or importers of motor vehicles will have to submit an application in FORM 70-A to the agency designated by the central government. The designated agency will get their motor vehicle star rated in accordance with the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS)-197, as amended from time to time. The star rating of the vehicle shall be uploaded on the designated portal by the designated agency, it said adding the BNCAP shall be a voluntary programme.

Bharat NCAP a step in right direction; to encourage production of safe cars in India: Auto Cos

<ul><li>India is reportedly gearing up to launch Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (<keyword id="3367686" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bharat-ncap" source="Orion">Bharat NCAP</keyword>).</li><li>A draft notification is expected to be released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MoRTH) soon.</li><li>Bharat <keyword id="367071" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ncap" source="Orion">NCAP</keyword> will be based on <keyword id="2032193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-ncap" source="Orion">Global NCAP</keyword> and come with India-specific modifications.</li></ul>India is all set to get its first car safety body, the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). The Bharat NCAP has been in the works for some time now and is expected to be announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in the coming months. According to a <a href="https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/passenger-vehicle/cars/draft-notification-on-bharat-ncap-expected-soon-may-tap-global-ncap-test-protocols/91816486">report</a> by Economic Times, a draft notification by the MoRTH is expected to be announced within months. “If they want, they can do it in one month”, a source familiar with the matter told ET. Bharat NCAP is expected to be led by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), with the guidance of the MoRTH. CIRT is a central government undertaking based in Pune, Maharashtra. Bharat NCAP is expected to follow the protocols set by <keyword id="2581503" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="global-new-car-assessment-programme" source="Orion">Global New Car Assessment Programme</keyword> (Global NCAP) for testing cars. Global NCAP is a UK based charity that has brought car safety to the limelight in India, thanks to its regular reports, including the very first <a href="https://www.motoroids.com/news/shocking-global-ncap-crash-tests-show-indias-cars-unsafe/">report</a> in 2014. The 2014 report was an eye-opener as all the five cars tested received zero-star ratings. “Our protocols are public. Anyone can take them. In fact, we made them public so that manufacturers can take them and develop their cars accordingly”, said Alejandro Furas, secretary general, Global NCAP. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Bharat NCAP to come with India-specific modifications" comment="subhead" text="Bharat NCAP to come with India-specific modifications">Bharat NCAP to come with India-specific modifications</cmsannotation> While the main tests such as front-offset crash test will be similar to Global NCAP, the Bharat NCAP will also include India-specific tests such as side collision. Bharat NCAP is expected to evaluate cars based on things like six airbags, three-point seat belts and electronic stability control, which is expected to be made mandatory in cars from 2023. It is possible that the rating will also consider features like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which includes driver drowsiness detection, Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), forward collision warning and more. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-in-india-in-june-2022/slidelist/91807021.cms">Upcoming cars in India in June 2022</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/vehicle-insurance-premiums-may-increase-from-april-2022/articleshow/90043466.cms">Vehicle insurance premiums to increase from June 1 – here’s how much the new premiums will cost you</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/kia-ev6-is-now-up-for-pre-booking-in-india-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-futuristic-electric-vehicle/slidelist/91807975.cms">Kia EV6 is now up for pre-booking in India — All you need to know about the futuristic electric vehicle</a>

Bharat NCAP – India is working on its own car safety assessment program, expected to be based on Global NCAP

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/52552721.cms" /> 
The Indian government has decided to tighten its rules to provide increased road safety by asking all automakers to provide airbags, antilock braking system (ABS) and speed warning systems as standard equipment in all cars, starting from October 2018. The road transport and highways ministry is expected to issue a notification about the same, along with a timetable. 
 
India counts among the countries with the maximum number of motoring accident rates, because vehicles made here are sold to price-conscious customers without proper safety features. While top models of most cars come with these features, the base models don’t offer these security measures, owing to which the number of road accidents is on a rise. 
 Recently, several <keyword id="20017" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="indian-cars">Indian cars</keyword> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Global-NCAP-crash-test-India-results/articleshow/52310812.cms">failed the global NCAP crash tests</a>, and this is said to have inspired the move, even though automakers had defended themselves by saying that all cars made in India adhere to current safety standards as stipulated by the Indian government. 
 
The government estimates that including these features in the cars would add 10% to the cost of the base model, which might even irk the customers. 
 The government also plans to have an exclusive safety authority, which would tentatively be called the Bharat <keyword id="3389263" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Car-Assessment-Programme">National Car Assessment Programme</keyword> (NCAP), to rate vehicles on safety basis. It would also mandate the front design of the vehicle to provide minimum injury to pedestrians. 
 
<a href="http://proctorcars.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/side-impact-air-bags.jpg">Image source</a>

From 2018 on, all car models in India to have airbags, ABS & speed-warning systems

Going forward, Indian car-makers have only two choices, either to re-engineer or stop production of cars that don’t make the safety cut. The reason behind this sudden rise in safety awareness is that from October onwards, safety features like dual airbags and antilock-braking systems (ABS) will be made mandatory in all new models. While from October 2019, all cars currently in production will be required to meet these standards. India doesn’t rank good in terms of road safety, having had more road fatalities than any other country in the recent years, even though the vehicle population here is a mere fraction of what leading economies have. The Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme was started to address this issue, which proposed a New Car Assessment Programme (<keyword id="367071" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ncap">NCAP</keyword>), to rate cars based on their safety performance. The biggest concern that car-makers have is the increased cost of selling cheaper models and entry-level compacts in the Rs 3-5 lakh band after the implementation of these norms. "In a competitive market there will always be cost pressures but consumers are increasingly demanding safer vehicles, too. Also, experience in other countries shows that when safety requirements become mandatory, manufacturers try to absorb the additional costs," <keyword id="1322299" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="David-Ward">David Ward</keyword>, Secretary General of <keyword id="2032193" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Global-NCAP">Global NCAP</keyword> told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/news/industry/how-these-4-indian-carmakers-like-maruti-tata-are-promising-to-make-killer-roads-safer-for-you/articleshow/58830787.cms">ET</a>. Base models have been traditionally sold in India without airbags and other safety devices to make them affordable, but once Global NCAP crash-tested these models, they saw alarmingly poor results, hence the mandate for safety equipment was made<a href="http://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/passenger-vehicle/uv/renault-duster-basic-variant-disappoints-in-global-ncap-crash-test/58608995">.</a> (Image source Feedster)

Killer Indian roads are going to be safer now

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/52310886.cms" /> 
The latest Indian crash test results from Global NCAP are out, and all five models, including Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon have been rated as zero star, showing low levels of adult occupant protection. 
 
Renault Kwid, which was tested in three versions, but not even one could go beyond zero stars for adult safety. All four versions of Kwid have been produced with different safety features; while three of them have failed the test, the fourth is yet to be tested by Global NCAP. 
 
"The latest SaferCarsforIndia results show how important it is for cars to have a body shell that can remain stable in a crash. This is an absolutely crucial pre-requisite for occupant safety together with fitment at least of front air bags. It is very surprising that a manufacturer like Renault introduced the Kwid initially lacking this essential feature. Global NCAP strongly believes that no manufacturer anywhere in the world should be developing new models that are so clearly sub-standard. Car makers must ensure that their new models pass the UN's minimum crash test regulations, and support use of an airbag," said David Ward, Secretary General of Global NCAPsaid. 
 
"We welcome Renault's efforts to correct this and we look forward to testing another improved version with airbags. Renault has a strong record of achievement in safety in Europe and it should offer the same commitment to its customers in India," he added. 
 
"Global NCAP also welcomes the forthcoming launch of a Bharat New Car Assessment Programme which can help build a market for safer cars in India," he concluded. 
 
Renault Kwid’s standard version without airbags scored zero stars, the structure in the passenger compartment and the lack of airbags explained the poor result. 
 
Mahindra Scorpio, on the other hand, failed because of collapse of the structure combined with the lack of airbags. 
 
The non-airbag Maruti Suzuki Eeco too failed because of collapse of the structure in the passenger compartment and the lack of airbags. 
 
Hyundai Eon offers no airbags in the standard version, and scored zero stars because of unstable structure in the passenger compartment and the lack of airbags.​ 
 
The non airbag Maruti Suzuki Celerio failed because of lack of airbags and high values recorded in the 3-year old child dummy placed during the test. 
 
<a href="http://indianautosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Maruti-Swift-Global-NCAP-crash-test.jpg">Image source</a>

Shocking: Kwid, Celerio, Eeco, Scorpio and Eon, all Indian cars got zero rating in global NCAP crash test

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/58416668.cms" /> India ranks amongst the top five most promising car markets globally. Unfortunately it also contributes to more than 1 lakh road accidents every year, with fatality rate of 57.3%. To bank on the Indian middle class, most car makers focus on price and not the safety. Most of the popular cars in the country are devoid of minimum safety features in the base variants. To chase sale, the manufacturers leave the passengers to their fates. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/we-took-the-rs-1-27-crore-worth-porsche-cayenne-for-an-off-road-driveand-heres-why-it-is-the-best-four-door-sports-car/articleshow/57854919.cms">ALSO READ: We took the Rs 1.27 crore worth Porsche Cayenne for an off road drive and here’s why it is the best four-door sports car</a> 
 
While recently, some cars under Rs 5 lakh mark have been provided with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/we-took-the-rs-1-27-crore-worth-porsche-cayenne-for-an-off-road-driveand-heres-why-it-is-the-best-four-door-sports-car/articleshow/57854919.cms">drivers’ air bags</a>, what alarms is, most of these cars aren’t crash safe. In case of a frontal crash, the car skeleton collapses. 
 
Many car buyers complain that even if they want to shell out extra money, there is no option to enhance air bags from dual to curtain or make other safety features available in all variants. 
 The <keyword id="131330" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Automotive-Research-Association-of-India">Automotive Research Association of India</keyword> (ARAI) will start with The Bharat New <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/we-took-the-rs-1-27-crore-worth-porsche-cayenne-for-an-off-road-driveand-heres-why-it-is-the-best-four-door-sports-car/articleshow/57854919.cms">Vehicle Safety</a> Assessment Program (BNVSAP) in the lines of Euro <keyword id="367071" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ncap">NCAP</keyword>, but that’s not before next year. In the developed <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/we-took-the-rs-1-27-crore-worth-porsche-cayenne-for-an-off-road-driveand-heres-why-it-is-the-best-four-door-sports-car/articleshow/57854919.cms">countries of Europe</a>, front crash avoidance, air bags, anti-lock braking system are some of the basic necessities to sell cars. 
 
If you want to buy a car, focus more on safety aspects and not on the accessories. We have researched a lot on safety aspect and brought you this extensive list of safest hatchbacks in the market.

The safest hatchback cars right now

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50807921.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" />Contrary to global standards, cars in India are only required to pass the front crash test or the steering impact test. It was only in the year 2013 when global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) turned its focus on India realizing that it's one of the top ten car markets in the world, but the only one without a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-auto-safety-ratings-to-include-collision-prevention-systems-2015-12?IR=T">proper car safety programme</a>. 
 It flew down the most bare basic versions of five India-made hatchbacks in 2014 to ADAC's testing facility in Germany- the <keyword id="6371021" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tata-Nano">Tata Nano</keyword>, Alto 800, <keyword id="596" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hyundai">Hyundai</keyword> i10, <keyword id="6355174" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ford">Ford</keyword> Figo and the Volkswagen Polo - ones which we can buy in India even today, declaring them not only unstable but likely to increase the “probability of life-threatening injuries”, in case of an accident. The agency gave zero-star adult protection ratings to these five India’s top-selling car models. 
	 
	<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48mZVBYTzvI">Watch these car tests here</a>

	 
	Under this Global NCAP test, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-japanese-and-german-automakers-dominate-safest-car-list-in-us-2015-12?IR=T">cars were subjected to a 40 per cent frontal collision</a> that was offset towards the driver, at a speed of 64kph. There is another safety test prescribed by the UN, wherein the car was launched towards the obstruction at a speed of 56kph. 
 The test results also revealed how cars being made for exports had passed the New Car <keyword id="3228188" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="NCAP-norms">NCAP norms</keyword> whereas those for Indian customers did not have these features. The i10 for example, which is made only in India for the world, had its European version get a 5 star NCAP rating, while the Indian car failed. 
	Automakers argue that if they were to incorporate most of the safety features, car prices could rise by 15 per cent to 20 per cent for the base model with one or two star rating which can bring down the supply for their product. But should their be anything higher up in their priority over security of their customers?
 

	What comes as a good news though is it’s no longer going to be easy for carmakers to descend their products in the Indian market starting 2017. With popular models from major auto makers failing crash tests, the Indian road ministry has made basic side and frontal crash tests mandatory for all new models by 2017, and for the existing ones by 2019, to decide the ‘crashworthiness’ and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-safest-cars-of-the-year-2015-4?IR=T">level of safety an automobile can offer</a>. 
 

	Moreover, the tests will no longer have to be taken outside the country as two car crash facilities are being set up at home. To pass these tests, the cars will need to have airbags and other safety features such as child restraint systems and anti-lock braking systems.
 In anticipation of this decision by the government, car makers like Ford, Maruti, have already begun to beef up safety features with pressure from the NCAP urging carmakers to adopt <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> safety standards for front and side impact till government’s new occupant protection regulations comes to force under Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme (BNVSAP). 
	 
	Once it does carmakers would be able to voluntarily adopt norms and go for star ratings, government will buy selected vehicles for first car crash assessment test, and carmakers would also be able to use both domestic and international facilities.

	 
	(Image credits: Wikipedia)

Crash tests which cars have to to go through in India before they can be launched

New Delhi, <keyword id="70910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai-motor" source="Orion">Hyundai Motor</keyword> India on Tuesday said all its models in the country would now come with six airbags as standard. The automaker also announced that it has decided for voluntary participation in the recently introduced Bharat NCAP with 3 models to begin with, and more models to follow. Under the Bharat NCAP programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their vehicles tested as per the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. Based on the performance of the car in the tests, the vehicle will be awarded star ratings on a scale of 0-5, for adult occupants (AOP) and child occupants (COP). Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase decision. The carmaker also announced that its mid sized sedan Verna has received a five-star rating in adult and child occupant protection by Global NCAP. <keyword id="596" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hyundai" source="Orion">Hyundai</keyword> Motor India MD &amp; CEO Unsoo Kim said safety for all is the company's utmost priority. "We have been benchmark creators in standardisation of vehicle safety features. Now, we are elated to announce the standardisation of six airbags across all models and all variants," he added. Hyundai Motor India COO Tarun Garg said with rising road network and increase in speed limits it is natural to upgrade the cars. Taking a big leap in the safety journey, the company has now decided to standardise six airbags in all models and all variants, he noted. The automaker is also looking to enhance ADAS (advanced driver-assistance system) and connected features across its entire product range, Garg said.

Hyundai Motor India says all its vehicles to come with 6 airbags

<ul><li>The government has withdrawn an advisory issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).</li><li>The advisory had asked citizens to avoid sharing photocopies of their <keyword id="546774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aadhaar-cards" source="Orion">Aadhaar cards</keyword>.</li><li>The government has claimed that the <keyword id="144117" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="aadhaar" source="Orion">Aadhaar</keyword> system is robust and citizens need to exercise only normal caution.</li></ul>The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has withdrawn an advisory issued by a regional office of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the authority mandated to issue and manage Aadhaar cards. In its <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1828797">advisory</a>, the Bengaluru regional office had asked citizens not to share the photocopies of their Aadhaar cards with anyone, claiming that it can be misused. The authority had recommended citizens to instead use a <keyword id="6972072" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="masked-aadhaar" source="Orion">masked Aadhaar</keyword> which displays only the last 4 digits. The MeitY has however withdrawn the advisory to avoid “misinterpretation of the press release”. In its <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1829162">press release</a>, the MeitY said that the advisory issued by the regional office of UIDAI was issued after a person attempted to use a photoshopped Aadhaar card. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Government says Aadhaar system is robust" comment="subhead" text="Government says Aadhaar system is robust">Government says Aadhaar system is robust</cmsannotation> The release further asked users to exercise “normal prudence” in using and sharing their Aadhaar numbers. It further added that the Aadhaar Identity Authentication system is equipped with “adequate features for protecting and safeguarding the identity and privacy of the Aadhaar holder.” <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What is masked Aadhaar?" comment="subhead" text="What is masked Aadhaar?">What is masked Aadhaar?</cmsannotation> If you are still wondering what is masked Aadhaar and how to get it, continue reading. Masked Aadhaar is similar to normal Aadhaar cards. The only difference is that the masked Aadhaar only shows the last 4 digits of the Aadhaar number. The remaining details are the same. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to get a masked Aadhaar?" comment="subhead" text="How to get a masked Aadhaar?">How to get a masked Aadhaar?</cmsannotation> <ul><li>To begin, go to <a href="https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/">myAadhaar website</a>.</li><li>Now, scroll down and click on “Download Aadhaar”.</li><li>Enter your Aadhaar number and the captcha.</li></ul>You will then get a checkbox asking if you wish to get a masked Aadhaar. <div type="image" title="Aadhaar" msid="91882493" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Masked Aadhaar.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <ul><li>Click on the box and then enter the OTP that you have received on your number.</li><li>Now click on “Download”.</li></ul>You can open your Aadhaar using the first four alphabets of your name and your year of birth. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/ayushman-bharat-health-account-features-benefits-and-how-to-apply-for-abha/articleshow/90933084.cms">Ayushman Bharat Health Account — features, benefits and how to apply for ABHA</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/how-to-apply-isro-free-online-course-and-check-out-eligibility-criteria/articleshow/91831777.cms">ISRO announces free online course for students above 10 years – eligibility, how to apply and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/bharat-ncap-india-is-working-on-its-own-car-safety-assessment-program-expected-to-be-based-on-global-ncap/articleshow/91826391.cms">Bharat NCAP – India is working on its own car safety assessment program, expected to be based on Global NCAP</a>

Government withdraws advisory on Aadhaar photocopies, asks citizens to be cautious while sharing Aadhaar card details

<ul><li>The <keyword id="97393" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="competition-commission-of-india" source="Orion">Competition Commission of India</keyword> (<keyword id="47183" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cci" source="Orion">CCI</keyword>) is investigating deals between e-commerce platforms and preferred sellers.</li><li>The competition watchdog had last month conducted raids on offices of online vendors.</li><li>The investigators have reportedly found documents that reveal “financial linkages” between e-commerce platforms and online vendors.</li></ul>E-commerce giants <keyword id="6354743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon-india" source="Orion">Amazon India</keyword> and <keyword id="6354742" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="flipkart" source="Orion">Flipkart</keyword> have come under the scanner of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) once again. The investigative arm of the competition watchdog is currently investigating documents that have revealed financial dealings between e-commerce platforms and their preferred sellers. According to an Economic Times <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/cci-reviews-documents-suggesting-nexus-between-e-commerce-firms-and-preferred-sellers/articleshow/91898945.cms">report</a>, the investigative arm, which is currently reviewing the documents found during a <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/big-story/story/cci-raids-amazon-flipkart-seller-offices-cait-welcomes-the-move-331611-2022-04-28">raid</a> last month, has sought more time from the CCI. The raids were conducted on the offices of <keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword> and Flipkart’s sellers. The investigation was supposed to be completed in the first week of June. However, additional time has been sought to analyze data. “Some important data has been seized during the raids and the same needs to be analyzed,” a source familiar with the investigation told ET. According to a source, the investigators recovered documents pertaining to “financial linkages” between the e-commerce platforms and sellers on the platforms. The documents reportedly also contain data related to costs. “Deep discounting is a key antitrust issue that CCI is probing and the documents pertaining to the acquisition costs of the goods will provide more insights on who is subsidizing these goods,” added the source. One of the issues being probed by the watchdog is the equity held by e-commerce giants in these online vendors. “Also, since some of the ecommerce companies themselves own shares in the online vendors, CCI is examining the terms of such equity investments,” the source said. The <keyword id="76562" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="confederation-of-all-india-traders" source="Orion">Confederation of All India Traders</keyword> (CAIT), a trader’s body, has welcomed the investigation and the raids conducted on the online vendors. CAIT has been a vocal critic of e-commerce platforms and the deep discounts offered by them. The CAIT in 2020 had approached CCI, alleging abuse of market dominance by e-commerce platforms. In its petition, CAIT had claimed that the e-commerce platforms were forcing vendors to become preferred vendors and then promoting them over non-preferred vendors. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/government-withdraws-advisory-on-aadhaar-photocopies-asks-citizens-to-be-cautious-while-sharing-aadhaar-card-details/articleshow/91881948.cms">Government withdraws advisory on Aadhaar photocopies, asks citizens to be cautious while sharing Aadhaar card details</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/bharat-ncap-india-is-working-on-its-own-car-safety-assessment-program-expected-to-be-based-on-global-ncap/articleshow/91826391.cms">Bharat NCAP – India is working on its own car safety assessment program, expected to be based on Global NCAP</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/government-backed-attackers-are-using-predator-spyware-to-record-audio-hide-apps-and-more-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-it/articleshow/91782685.cms">Government-backed attackers are using Predator spyware to record audio, hide apps and more — here's everything you need to know about it</a>

India’s competition watchdog is probing deals between Amazon, Flipkart and their preferred sellers

<ul><li><keyword id="9360064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="productivity-applications" source="Orion">Productivity applications</keyword> help increase efficiency for both personal and professional needs. </li><li>These applications can help manage tasks, track schedules and maintain workflow. </li><li>Below listed are the top Indian applications to <keyword id="1985724" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="boost-productivity" source="Orion">boost productivity</keyword>. </li></ul>Productivity and utility <keyword id="6354741" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="apps" source="Orion">apps</keyword> are a great way to lessen manual work and increase effectiveness. These applications help streamline work and keep you organized. The purpose of the productivity applications is to increase efficiency by making the tasks easy and quick. While there are various options available on the App Store and the Play Store depending on different work types and requirements, choosing the ones that are best suited for you is not an easy task. In this guide, we have curated a list of the top 5 made in India productivity applications. Share Karo: Transfer, Share it With a 3.8 star rating on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/in/app/share-karo-transfer-share-it/id1584597372">App Store</a> and a 4.4star rating on<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=share.sharekaro.pro&amp;hl=en_IN&amp;gl=US"> Play Store</a>, this application lets the users share media even without the internet. It does not require logging in and is suitable to share files of any size. In order to discover nearby users, Share Karo asks permission for using the location. The application is developed by Nitesh Raikwar. Kaagaz Scanner The Kaagaz Scanner application is available on both<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kaagaz-scanner-pdf-doc-scan/id1544400722?ign-itscg=30200&amp;ign-itsct=apps_box"> App Store</a> and<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kaagaz.scanner.docs.pdf"> Play Store</a>. It is an easy to use application that scans notes, documents and PDFs. It is suitable to scan even in the dark with a flashlight option. This application also comes with 5 filter options – original, black/white, gray, magic colour 1 and white magic to adjust the document according to your requirement. Users can easily share the documents via different mediums. It is considered one of the best Indian alternative apps to Cam Scanner. The application is developed by Snehanshu Gandhi, Gaurav Shrishrimal and Tamanjit Bindra, IIT Kanpur's alumni. Scanner go This all-in-1 PDF scanner <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cam.scanner.camscanner.documentscanner&amp;hl=en_IN&amp;gl=US">application </a>is easy to use and is a great option for those who travel for business purposes. The application is free to download and requires no subscriptions or internet connection to work. Apart from PDF, the application is also suitable for scanning documents. You can share files anywhere and anytime in JPG or PDF format. The application is developed by Appyhigh Technology. Tasks: To Do Lists &amp; Planner With a 4.7 star rating on the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tasks-to-do-lists-planner/id1502903102">App Store</a>, this application offers multiple features that help customize the day to day tasks and work status. It lets you add 'Tags' to keep track of what tasks are to be done. The application also comes with the option to create folders, and projects and add sub-tasks to keep the work organized. You can also set reminders with this application. Mustafa Yusuf developed this application during the lockdown period. Image to PDF - PDF Maker This <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=imagetopdf.pdfconverter.jpgtopdf.pdfeditor">application </a>is available on the Play Store with a 4.8 star rating. It converts pictures of different formats into PDFs in offline mode. The application is not only suitable to convert images to PDFs but also allows you to edit the PDFs. It keeps the data private and safe. You can also add multiple images to form a single PDF. This application is developed by Simple Design Ltd. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/your-android-devices-and-smartphones-may-soon-get-ability-to-detect-snoring-and-coughing-in-sleep/articleshow/91833270.cms">Your Android smartphones may soon be able to detect snoring and coughing while you sleep</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/bharat-ncap-india-is-working-on-its-own-car-safety-assessment-program-expected-to-be-based-on-global-ncap/articleshow/91826391.cms">Bharat NCAP – India is working on its own car safety assessment program, expected to be based on Global NCAP</a>

Top 5 Indian apps to boost productivity

New Delhi, Feb 1 () The Centre on Monday earmarked a separate Rs 2,217 crore for 42 urban centres to tackle air pollution and announced the much-awaited voluntary vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and polluting vehicles, even as it shrunk the budgetary allocation for the environment ministry from the last fiscal by nearly eight percent. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech for 2021-22, announced a total of Rs 2869.93 crore for the ministry, Rs 230 crore less than the last fiscal. Officials said the outlay has been lesser this time as the economy is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Centre almost doubled the amount allotted to National Coastal Mission from Rs 103 crore in the last fiscal to Rs 200 crore in 2021-22, the allocation for the climate change action plan has been reduced from Rs 40 crore to Rs 30 crore and for Project Tiger from Rs 300 crore to Rs 250 crore. The minister, in her speech, also announced a separate sum of Rs 2,217 crore for combating air pollution at 42 urban centres. "To tackle the burgeoning problem of air pollution, I propose to provide an amount of Rs 2,217 crore for 42 urban centres with a million plus population in this budget," Sitharaman said. Speaking to , Environment Secretary R P Gupta said the budget for the environment is less than last year as the economy is recovering from the pandemic. "Yes the budget may be less than last year but it is also because we are recovering from the pandemic," Gupta said. Out of Rs 2869.93 crore allocated to the ministry of environment, the minister allotted Rs 470 crore for 'control of pollution', which is Rs 10 crore more than last year. Control of Pollution has been conceptualized to provide financial assistance to Pollution control Boards/Committees and funding to National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in January 2019. For the first time, a budget provision of Rs 20 crore has been made for the newly formed statutory body Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the national capital region and adjoining areas. In yet another step for combating air pollution, Sitharaman on Monday announced the voluntary vehicle scrapping policy under which personal vehicles would undergo fitness test after 20 years while commercial vehicles would require it after completion of 15 years. Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Minister Nitin Gadkari said the policy would cover over one crore old light, medium and heavy motor vehicles that are estimated to cause 10-12 times more pollution than the latest vehicles. "We are separately announcing a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles. This will help in encouraging fuel-efficient, environment-friendly vehicles, thereby reducing vehicular pollution and oil import bill," the finance minister said. The budgetary allocation for National Mission for Green India has been reduced from Rs 311 crore in the last financial year to Rs 290 crore this time with the national afforestation programme alone being allotted Rs 235 crore, lower than last year's amount of Rs 246 crore. In the wildlife conservation arena, the allocation for government-initiated projects -- Project Tiger and Project Elephant -- saw some changes with the former getting reduced by Rs 50 crore and the other being shrunk by Rs 2 crore. The fiscal's allocation for Project Tiger saw a reduction of Rs 100 crore in the last two years. From Rs 350 crore allotted to it in 2019-20, it was reduced to Rs 300 crore in the last fiscal, and now the allocation stands at Rs 250 crore. The budget for Project Elephant, which was launched to conserve jumbos across the country, has been reduced to Rs 33 crore from Rs 35 crore last year. The allocation for the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry responsible for tiger census and conservation of wild cats, saw a minor reduction of Rs 50 lakh from Rs 10.5 crore to Rs 10 crore. The budget for National Coastal Mission was nearly doubled with the government allotting it Rs 200 crore from Rs 103 crore allotted to it last year. In 2019-20, NCM was allotted Rs 95 crore. Under the National Coastal Mission, the environment ministry is responsible for ensuring livelihood security of coastal communities, including fisher folks, conserving, protecting the coastal stretches and promoting sustainable development based on scientific principles The minister also announced that under Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, for which Rs 1.42 lakh crore have been set aside, main interventions include complete faecal sludge management and waste water treatment, source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic, reduction in air pollution by effectively managing waste from construction-and-demolition activities and bio-remediation of all legacy dump sites. The Centre reduced the budgetary allocation for National Mission for Himalayan Studies by 10 crore and the amount for various regional offices and statutory institutes like Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Forest Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, National Green Tribunal etc collectively from Rs 506 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 460 crore this year. Funds for 'environment knowledge and capacity building' were also reduced from Rs 86.37 crore last year to Rs 70 crore. It is the umbrella central sector scheme with two sub-schemes - Forestry Training and Capacity Building, and Eco Task Force. The scheme Forestry Training and Capacity Building aims to cover the whole gamut of the training and exposure needs of the forestry sector personnel. The Eco Task Force scheme is being implemented through the Ministry of Defence for ecological restoration of terrains, rendered difficult either due to severe degradation or remote location. The budget for environmental education, awareness and training was also reduced from Rs 114 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 77.13 crore in 2021-22. The total allocation of five autonomous bodies under the environment ministry has also been reduced in the budget this year. The five autonomous bodies – G B Pant Himalayan Institute of Environment and Development, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) – were allocated Rs 305.5 crore for this year compared to Rs 340 crore allotted to them in the last fiscal. However, the budget for statutory and regulatory bodies rose from Rs 145.5 crore to Rs 160.5 crore this year. The bodies include Central Pollution Control Board, Animal Welfare Board, Central Zoo Authority, National Biodiversity Authority, National Tiger Conservation Authority and Commission for Air Quality Management. AG RT RT

Budget allocation of Rs 2,217 crore, new vehicle scrapping policy for tackling air pollution; Env ministry's outlay shrinks

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/47265226.cms" />From October 2017, India will have safer cars as the Government is finally enforcing stringent crash test norms. 
 
The norms would be mandatory for all new cars from October 2017, whereas the deadline for upgrades of existing models has been set for October 2018. 
 
The new minimum safety norms, including frontal and side crash tests, will be applicable to all cars -entry-level, small and cheaper models. 
 
According to Government’s new order, the cars would be tested for frontal crash norms at 56 kmh and test for side crash test will be at 50 kmh. 
 
The international test norms will be met in both the cases, thereby making vehicles safer for occupants and drivers. 
 
Vehicle experts say that cars need to have airbags and other necessary safety features to pass these tests. 
 
"Airbags and other much demanded safety apparatus would also be standardised in the new cars. Though these are not mandatory, some structural changes, including structural compatibility, would be needed to meet the safety requirements," a senior government official told Economic Times. 
 
Some of the older models, which may not have the required structural strength to meet the new stipulations, could be phased out. 
 
However, it could not be ascertained from the government or car companies on the models that would be phased out. The official added that companies had more than two years to meet the structural strength. 
 
On the lines of New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme (BNVSAP) is likely to judge cars in line with developed market parameters. 
 
The star rating in India drew flak as many of the models fared badly in the independent crash tests conducted by Global NCAP last year. 
 
The norms have been adopted from the best practices across major countries, including Japan, Europe and the US and would be implemented in phases. 
 As per the financial daily, <keyword id="610099" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="International-Centre-for-Automotive-Technology">International Centre for Automotive Technology</keyword> (iCAT) at Manesar would be conducting these tests once the required facilities are established.

You Searched For "bharat ncap" and got 15 results

Nitin Gadkari launches Bharat NCAP, India's car crash test programme

IANS

Safety top priority now for Indian car buyers, existing owners may upgrade if ratings are low

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PTI

Bharat NCAP – India is working on its own car safety assessment program, expected to be based on Global NCAP

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From 2018 on, all car models in India to have airbags, ABS & speed-warning systems

BI India Bureau

Killer Indian roads are going to be safer now

BI India Bureau

Shocking: Kwid, Celerio, Eeco, Scorpio and Eon, all Indian cars got zero rating in global NCAP crash test

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The safest hatchback cars right now

Suchayan Mandal

Crash tests which cars have to to go through in India before they can be launched

Anushree Singh

Hyundai Motor India says all its vehicles to come with 6 airbags

PTI

Government withdraws advisory on Aadhaar photocopies, asks citizens to be cautious while sharing Aadhaar card details

Sourabh Jain

India’s competition watchdog is probing deals between Amazon, Flipkart and their preferred sellers

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Top 5 Indian apps to boost productivity

Shradha Aneja

Budget allocation of Rs 2,217 crore, new vehicle scrapping policy for tackling air pollution; Env ministry's outlay shrinks

PTI

India to make ‘crash test’ a must for all new car launches

BI India Bureau