• Seven vehicles, including models from Tata, Mahindra, and Maruti, were retested by Bharat NCAP before their safety ratings were officially published.
• Modifier details that affect final safety scores, such as bodyshell instability and footwell rupture, remain confidential and were not disclosed in the RTI response.

An RTI application filed in March 2026 with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has shed fresh light on Bharat NCAP's internal testing procedures. The applicant sought information on three specific areas: modifier statuses used in crash evaluations, whether the Government of India had directly nominated any vehicles for assessment, and whether any vehicles had undergone retesting before their official ratings were published.

The response confirmed that as of March 31, 2026, Bharat NCAP had assessed 35 vehicle models under voluntary OEM submissions. It also clarified that no vehicle has been directly nominated by the Government of India for assessment, despite provisions under AIS-197 that allow the government to do exactly that.

Seven Cars Were Retested Before Final Ratings Went Public

The most notable revelation from the RTI response is the confirmation that seven vehicles were subjected to retesting or reassessment before their crash test ratings were officially published.

These retests were approved under AIS-197 Clause 6.2, which governs retesting procedures. The vehicles in question are the Maruti Dzire, Tata Punch ICE, Tata Sierra ICE, Tata Curvv ICE, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Mahindra XUV400 EV, and Mahindra BE 6.

Retesting is not an unusual practice in global crash test programmes. Manufacturers routinely make structural or safety-related improvements following initial evaluations, and reassessment allows for updated ratings that reflect these changes.

However, this marks one of the first official confirmations from Bharat NCAP that multiple vehicles were reassessed before results were made public.

Bharat NCAP Safety Ratings at a Glance

Below is the full table of safety ratings for all cars tested by Bharat NCAP to date:

Modifier Scores Kept Under Wraps

The RTI applicant also requested information about crash test modifiers, which are penalty factors applied to final scores for issues such as bodyshell instability and footwell rupture. These modifiers can have a meaningful impact on the final published safety rating, even when the raw numerical scores appear strong.

The RTI response confirmed that these modifier details have not been made public and are being treated as confidential. The decision has generated considerable discussion within the automotive enthusiast community, since the absence of this data makes it difficult for consumers to understand how a car arrived at its final score.

What This Means for Car Buyers

Since Bharat NCAP's inception, safety ratings have become an increasingly important consideration for Indian car buyers. Tata Motors, Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki have all participated actively in the programme through voluntary submissions. The RTI findings now offer a rare and official glimpse into the reassessment process, making clear that retesting is far more common than the general public may have previously understood.

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