New Delhi: Government is considering a proposal to introduce a star rating programme for new passenger cars based on safety features, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

“Proposal of Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) — a star rating programme of new passenger cars based on safety performance is being reviewed by the government," minister of state for road transport and highways Pon Radhakrihsnan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

The progrmme is proposed to be implemented initially on voluntary basis by car manufacturers which rate the safety performance of the car mainly in offset frontal crash, slide impact crash, child safety requirements and pedestrian safety requirements with several other safety features like anti-skid brakers and seat belt reminder.

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Radhakrishnan said, “Several Indian car models got poor star ratings in the crash test performed under global new car assessment programme conducted by Global NCAP, which is international voluntary organisation working in the interest of consumers."

The government has already notified mandatory crash norms for frontal and side impact crash in line with UNICEF regulation for implementation in India from October 2017 for new car models and from 2019 for all the car models.

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