Car Safety in India — NCAP Ratings, Airbags & What Actually Matters
Which Indian cars are actually safe? A guide to Bharat NCAP ratings, airbag requirements, and the safety features that make a real difference.
Why car safety matters more in India
India has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world. The roads are unpredictable — pedestrians, two-wheelers, animals, and potholes are all part of the mix. In this environment, a car's passive safety systems — the engineering that protects you during a crash — matter enormously.
For years, Indian cars were not held to the same safety standards as European or Japanese cars. That is changing. Bharat NCAP, India's own crash testing programme, launched in 2023 and has already tested dozens of popular models. The results are sobering — some cars that Indians have been buying for years scored very poorly.
What NCAP actually tests
NCAP does not just crash a car and see what happens. It runs a battery of tests across four categories: adult occupant protection (how well the seatbelt, airbags, and structure protect a grown adult), child occupant protection (crash tests with child-sized dummies in child seats), vulnerable road user protection (how the car's front end behaves if it hits a pedestrian), and safety assist (does the car have automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and so on).
Each category gets a score, and the overall rating is one to five stars. A 5-star car has done well across all four categories — not just one.
The 6-airbag mandate
As of October 2023, all new cars sold in India must have a minimum of six airbags. This was a massive step forward. Previously, many budget cars shipped with just two front airbags — offering almost no side or curtain protection.
Six airbags cover the front, sides, and curtains. In a side impact — one of the most common crash types — curtain airbags deploy along the roof to protect your head. This alone saves hundreds of lives.
Spoke pages coming soon
The guides below cover specific safety questions — the safest cars by budget, what Bharat NCAP vs Global NCAP means, and whether 6 airbags really make a difference.
Dive Deeper
Safest Cars Under 10 Lakhs in India (2026 NCAP Ratings)
The cars with 5-star and 4-star Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP ratings under 10 lakhs. Real crash test data, not marketing claims.
Bharat NCAP vs Global NCAP — Which Safety Rating Should You Trust?
Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP both test car safety in India. Are the ratings comparable? Which one is stricter? The complete comparison.
6 Airbags vs 2 Airbags — Does It Really Make a Difference in India?
Are 6 airbags actually safer than 2 airbags? What the crash tests show, which airbags matter most, and why the 2023 mandate changed everything.
Best Car Color for Safety in India — White vs Black (Research-Backed)
White cars are 47% less likely to be in accidents than black cars. Here's the research on why car color affects safety, and which colors are safest in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 5-star NCAP rating mean?
A 5-star rating means the car scored the highest marks in crash tests for adult occupant protection, child protection, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assist features.
Are all Indian cars tested by NCAP?
No. Testing is voluntary. Many budget cars have never been tested. If a car has no NCAP rating, you cannot assume it is safe.
How many airbags do I need?
The Indian government mandated a minimum of 6 airbags for cars sold after October 2023. Cars with 6 airbags offer significantly better protection than the older 2-airbag standard.