Question : International Safety Standards for New Vehicles

(a) whether the Government has made it mandatory for vehicle manufacturers, especially car manufacturers to comply with best international standards for safety of drivers and passengers for new vehicles;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of state-of-the-art automotive design and testing centres existing in the country for the purpose; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to formulate new norms for crash test, emissions and other safety equipment to ensure manufacturing of safer vehicles in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a): Yes Madam, M/o Road Transport and Highways, Government of India has made it mandatory for the vehicle manufacturers in general and passenger car manufacturers in particular to comply with the standards for safety of drivers and passengers. These standards are technically aligned as much as possible with the international standards viz. UN ECE/Global Technical Regulations(GTRs).

(b): Following major safety standards (crash related standards) have been notified for implementation for new vehicle model:

(i) AIS-096 – requirement for Behaviour of steering Mechanism of a vehicle in a Head-on Collision
(ii) AIS 098 Requirements for the Protection of Occupants in the event of an Offset Frontal Collision (Technically aligned with UNECE R 94)
(iii) AIS-099-Approval of vehicles with regard to the Protection of the Occupants in the event of a Lateral Collision (technically aligned with UNECE R 95)

Testing Centres created/upgraded under the Government of India NATRiP project are: ARAI, Pune; ICAT, Manesar; GARC. Chennai; VRDE, Ahmednagar and NATRAX, Pithampur.

(c) :Government has already notified crash standards referred above for mandatory implementation from October, 2017 for new vehicles and from October 2019 for all vehicle models. The standard mandating other safety devices like driver air bag, over speed alert system, rear parking assist and Seat Belt reminder etc. has also been notified.

In case of emission, Stringent Bharat Stage VI norms are mandatory for all vehicle models across India from April, 2020.

*********