A recent RTI response from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has revealed more details about how India NCAP conducts crash tests and safety ratings in India. RTI was filed in March 2026. A post by Team BHP reveals that it has asked for information on re-tests, crash test modifiers and how vehicles are selected for India NCAP assessment.According to the response shared online, India NCAP had tested 35 car models till March 31, 2026. All these vehicles were voluntarily submitted by the manufacturers. The response also states that none of the cars tested so far has been directly selected by the Government of India, although the AIS-197 rules allow the government to nominate vehicles for testing.
Photo credit: Team BHP.
The RTI response also revealed that seven vehicles were retested or retested before publishing the final rating on the India NCAP website. These include Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Tata Punch ICE, Tata Sierra ICE, Tata Curvv ICE, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Mahindra XUV400 EV and Mahindra BE 6.
According to the RTI reply, these retests were conducted under Clause 6.2 of AIS-197. This rule allows for re-examination or re-evaluation if incomplete data, missing parameters or some results fall outside the desired range. Retesting is not unique to India NCAP. Similar safety programs around the world also conduct reassessments to ensure accurate results and confirm improvements before final ratings are announced.Stay connected with TOI Auto for the latest updates on the automotive sector and follow us on our social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and X.
