Content
- India posts 8.2% Q2 GDP growth, tops six quarters
- Kerala’s population to rise till 2041, then fall: report
- NISAR earth observation satellite enters final science phase
- WHO calls on countries to make fertility care safer and affordable
- CPCB reports heavy metal contamination in Delhi’s groundwater
- Bharat NCAP 2.0 draft released by MoRTH
India posts 8.2% Q2 GDP growth, tops six quarters
Why is this in News?
- India’s GDP grew 8.2% in Q2 (July–September) FY26, the highest in six quarters.
- Growth higher than Q1 FY26 (7.8%) and Q2 FY25 (5.6%).
- Released by MOSPI.
- Comes days after the IMF graded India’s national accounts ‘C’, citing methodology and data quality concerns.
- Nominal GDP grew only 8.7%, much lower than the 10.1% assumed in Budget → fiscal consolidation challenge.
Relevance
GS 3 – Economy
• Real vs nominal GDP, GDP deflator, inflation trends and interpretation.
• Fiscal policy: implications of low nominal GDP on fiscal deficit.
• Investment trends: GFCF, PLI incentives, public vs private capex.
• External sector: exports (manufacturing & services), global demand dynamics.
• Monetary policy: RBI decisions in context of low inflation and high real growth.
• Data quality & methodology: IMF Article IV concerns, outdated base year, WPI-heavy deflator.
GS 2 – Governance / Policy Implementation
• Policy evaluation: effectiveness of manufacturing incentives (PLI) and public capex.
• Implications for fiscal planning and administrative decision-making.
Basics
Real GDP
- Adjusts for inflation.
- Indicates actual increase in production.
- India’s real GDP = 8.2%.
Nominal GDP
- Measured at current prices, includes inflation.
- India’s nominal GDP = 8.7%.
- Indicates tepid inflation + weaker pricing power.
GDP Deflator
- Ratio of nominal to real GDP.
- Current deflator very low due to fall in commodity & manufacturing prices.
- IMF & economists argue: WPI-heavy deflator undervalues service inflation → inflates real GDP artificially.
What Drove the 8.2% Growth?
Manufacturing
- Strong rebound due to:
- Lower input costs.
- PLI-led expansions.
- Electronics, pharmaceuticals, auto components growth.
Services
- IT, financial services, real estate, logistics driving expansion.
- Consumption linked services show steady recovery.
Investment
- GFCF up, indicating strong capex.
- Public capital expenditure continues to dominate; private capex recovery modest but improving.
Agriculture
- Weak due to erratic monsoon & El Niño legacy effects.
What Are the Concerns?
Low Nominal GDP (8.7%)
- When real GDP > nominal GDP, deflator becomes abnormally low.
- Scholars argue:
- Real growth appears overstated, actual economic activity “subdued”.
- Manufacturing disinflation artificially boosts real growth.
Fiscal Deficit Pressure
- Designed around 10.1% nominal GDP increase.
- Lower nominal growth → higher deficit-to-GDP ratio risk.
Data Quality Issues
- IMF’s ‘C’ grade — second-lowest category.
- Issues flagged:
- Outdated base year (2011-12).
- Discrepancies between production and expenditure GDP.
- WPI-heavy deflator inappropriate for a services-dominant economy.
Uneven Recovery
- Consumption weak for lower-income households.
- Rural distress visible in FMCG, diesel demand, MGNREGA reliance.
- Credit growth slowing in MSMEs.
Scholarly Views
Upasna Bhardwaj (Kotak)
- High real growth → “deflator effect”.
- Nominal GDP suggests underlying weakness in economic momentum.
Madan Sabnavis (Bank of Baroda)
- Low nominal growth complicates achieving 4.4% fiscal deficit target.
IMF Assessment (Article IV)
- Data quality issues hamper surveillance.
- Urges new base year, service price indices.
Government Position
- PM: Growth reflects pro-growth reforms, capex push, and resilience.
- Points to broad-based expansion in manufacturing + services.
Structural Factors Behind Strong Real GDP
- Corporate profits-to-GDP at record high → productivity gains.
- Formal sector expansion.
- PLI incentives boosting manufacturing.
- Public capex multiplier sustaining investment cycle.
- Digital public infrastructure reducing transaction costs.
Broader Macroeconomic Implications
Monetary Policy
- Low inflation + high real growth complicate RBI decisions.
- Real vs nominal divergence challenges interpretation.
External Sector
- Booming services exports.
- Manufacturing exports slowed due to global uncertain demand.
Labour Market
- PLFS urban unemployment: improving.
- Rural labour stress persists.
First-Half FY26 Outlook
- H1 FY26 growth = 8%.
- India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy.
Kerala’s population to rise till 2041, then fall: report
Why is this in News?
- A new national-level demographic report “Unravelling India’s Demographic Future (2021–2051)” has been released by:
- International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Thiruvananthapuram
- Population Foundation of India (PFI)
- Principal investigators: Prof. S. Irudaya Rajan, J. Retnakumar.
- The report highlights that Kerala will remain India’s oldest State till 2051, with rapid ageing, sub-replacement fertility, and extraordinary urbanisation.
- Provides low, medium, high variant projections for all major States using the Cohort Component Method.
Relevance
GS 1 – Society / Demographics
• Ageing population, median age, old-age dependency ratio.
• Fertility trends (TFR), life expectancy, demographic transition phases.
• Urbanisation: rural–urban migration, urban planning challenges.
GS 2 – Governance / Social Policy
• Elderly care policies, healthcare infrastructure, pension systems.
• Labour force planning, skill development, automation/AI adaptation.
• Migration and workforce integration policies.
Key Demographic Concepts
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
- Average number of children per woman.
- Replacement level in India ≈ 2.1.
- Kerala projected to hit TFR = 1.4 (floor level) by 2051 → irreversible ageing.
Life Expectancy
- Expected years of life at birth.
- Kerala increases from 75.1 years (2026) → 82.9 years (2051).
Median Age
- Age that divides the population into two equal halves.
- Kerala → rises from 37 years (2026) to 47 years (2051) → advanced ageing.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
- Ratio of elderly (60+) to working-age population.
- Kerala’s high ageing → rising dependency burden.
Cohort Component Method
- Gold-standard projection technique using:
- Fertility
- Mortality
- Migration
- Applied to 22 States with >6 million population (based on Census 2011).
Kerala’s Population Trend (2021–2051)
Growth Trajectory
- 2011: 3.34 crore
- 2026: 3.58 crore
- 2041: 3.62 crore (peak)
- 2051: 3.55 crore (decline begins)
Core Insight
- Kerala’s population peaks by 2041 → then declines → enters Phase 3 Demographic Transition (post-mature society).
Ageing Profile: India’s Oldest State
60+ Population Share
- 2026: 18.6%
- 2051: 30.6% (nearly 1 in 3 Keralites will be elderly)
80+ Oldest-Old
- 2021: ~2%
- 2051: 6.4% (highest in India)
- Next: Tamil Nadu at 5.2%
Children (0–14 years)
- 2021: 19.3% (lowest in India)
- 2051: declines further → sustained low birth rates.
Comparison with Other States
Bihar
- Will remain India’s youngest State.
- Child share in 2051: 22.6% (highest)
- Kerala: 12.8% (lowest)
Demographic Divergence
- Kerala → ageing, shrinking workforce, high life expectancy.
- Bihar → youthful population, delayed demographic transition.
Urbanisation Trend
Urban-Rural Ratio
- 2011: Urban 47.7%, Rural 52.3%
- 2051: Urban 91.1%, Rural 8.9%
Interpretation
- Kerala shifts from mixed to almost fully urban State.
- Urbanisation driven by:
- Declining rural fertility
- Out-migration
- Reclassification of settlements
- Service-sector concentrated growth
Data Sources Used
- Census of India (2011)
- Sample Registration System (SRS)
- National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
- Civil Registration System (CRS)
- National Sample Survey (NSS)
Factors Behind Kerala’s Demographic Structure
Low Fertility (TFR → 1.4)
- High female literacy.
- Women’s workforce participation in services.
- High cost of child upbringing.
- Norm of small families.
High Life Expectancy
- Public health success (Arogya Kerala model).
- High health spending, low IMR, high institutional births.
Out-migration
- Large-scale Gulf migration.
- Decline in young working-age cohorts.
Challenges Emerging from Kerala’s Demographic Future
Economic Challenges
- Shrinking workforce → lower economic dynamism.
- Rising pension burden.
- Healthcare cost explosion (geriatrics, NCDs).
- Skill shortages in labour-intensive sectors.
Social Challenges
- Elderly care infrastructure shortages.
- Increase in single-person elderly households.
- Feminisation of ageing (women live longer).
Fiscal Challenges
- Social security spending to rise sharply.
- Health insurance costs escalate.
- Need for migrant labour → integration issues.
Opportunities
- Silver economy: healthcare, assistive tech, geriatric services.
- High human capital base → knowledge economy growth.
- Automation and high-skilled sectors offset workforce decline.
Policy Recommendations
Short- to Medium-Term
- Strengthen elderly care ecosystem.
- Expand palliative care and home-based services.
- Incentivise higher female workforce participation.
- Promote healthy ageing programmes.
Long-term Structural
- Immigration policy (regulated influx of migrant workers).
- Urban infrastructure expansion for 90%+ urban population.
- Productivity enhancement via automation and AI.
Scholars like Irudaya Rajan, P.V. Sukhatme, and Dyson & Visaria emphasise that Kerala is moving towards European-style ageing but without European-style economic buffers, making policy innovation crucial.
NISAR earth observation satellite enters final science phase
Why Is This in News?
- ISRO announced that NISAR, launched in July 2025, has now entered the Science Phase of its mission.
- During this phase:
- The satellite begins full-scale science operations, regular orbit maintenance, and calibration–validation activities.
- ISRO confirmed that the S-Band SAR is already regularly imaging the Indian landmass, while the 12-metre antenna reflector is fully deployed.
- NISAR is also in news as TTD former chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy appeared before CID in a separate case, but the ISRO update is about mission progress.
Relevance
GS 3 – Science & Technology
• Satellite tech: dual-frequency SAR, L-band & S-band, 12m antenna deployment.
• Space applications: Earth observation, disaster management, agriculture, forestry, water resources.
• Climate & environment: glacier monitoring, sea-level rise, Himalayan hydrology.
GS 2 – International Relations / Science Diplomacy
• India–US collaboration: strategic technology partnership, global Earth observation leadership.
What is NISAR?
Definition
- NISAR = NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission
- World’s first dual-frequency SAR Earth Observation satellite (L-band + S-band).
Lead Agencies
- Jointly developed by:
- ISRO (India) → S-Band SAR
- NASA (US) → L-Band SAR
Launch
- 30 July 2025, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Orbit
- Near-polar sun-synchronous orbit (~747 km).
Mission Life
- 5 years (science phase extends till end of mission).
Technical Architecture
Dual-Frequency SAR
- L-Band (NASA): penetrates vegetation, soil, ice.
- S-Band (ISRO): surface deformation, crop monitoring, infrastructure.
12-metre deployable antenna reflector
- One of the largest radar antennas ever flown.
- Enables high spatial resolution and wide swath imaging.
All-weather, day-night capability
- Microwave radar → can image through:
- Clouds
- Smoke
- Rain
- Darkness
Imaging Revisit Time
- High-frequency monitoring, enabling global landmass coverage every 12 days.
Mission Phases (ISRO Classification)
1. Launch Phase
- Liftoff, orbit insertion.
2. Deployment Phase
- Deployment of the 12-m reflector.
- Activation of payloads.
3. Commissioning Phase
- Sensor checks, calibration, orbit tuning.
4. Science Phase (Now Started)
- Full operational data acquisition.
- Regular manoeuvres to maintain science orbit.
- Intensive calibration/validation with global sites.
Applications (High UPSC Relevance)
A. Climate and Earth System Monitoring
- Ice-sheet movement (Greenland, Antarctica).
- Glacier mass balance → crucial for Himalayan hydrology.
- Sea-level rise predictions.
B. Disaster Management
- Earthquakes → crustal deformation mapping.
- Landslides → early detection.
- Flood mapping → all-weather real-time imaging.
- Cyclone damage assessment.
C. Agriculture
- Crop type mapping.
- Soil moisture.
- Pest/drought early warning.
- Crop insurance verification.
D. Forests & Carbon Cycle
- Biomass estimation.
- Deforestation tracking.
- REDD+ compliance monitoring.
E. Infrastructure Monitoring
- Detecting land subsidence.
- Monitoring roads, dams, mines.
- Urban expansion mapping.
F. Water Resources
- Wetland mapping.
- River morphology changes (erosion/deposition).
Significance for India
Strategic
- High-quality indigenous Earth observation dataset.
- Reduces dependence on foreign satellites for disaster response.
Scientific
- Enhances global models for:
- Climate change
- Plate tectonics
- Cryosphere studies
Economic
- Improves crop yield forecasting.
- Enables precision agriculture.
- Helps insurance, infrastructure planning.
Diplomatic / Technology Partnership
- One of the largest NASA–ISRO collaborations since the 1970s.
- Enhances India’s leadership in Earth observation.
ISRO’s Progress Update (From News Context)
- S-Band SAR: Already imaging Indian landmass and major global calibration sites.
- Reflector: Fully deployed and operational.
- Orbit maintenance: Ongoing during science phase.
- Next steps: Large-scale global data distribution and joint NASA–ISRO science campaigns.
WHO calls on countries to make fertility care safer and affordable
Why Is This in News?
- WHO released its first-ever global guideline on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility.
- It provides 40 evidence-based recommendations aimed at making fertility care:
- safer
- equitable
- affordable
- integrated into national health systems
- WHO highlighted that global demand for infertility care is increasing, but access remains severely limited and expensive.
Relevance
GS 2 – Health Governance
• Public health: infertility as a health condition, integration into national health systems.
• Health policy: financial protection, universal access, low-cost infertility care.
• Regulatory framework: ART Act 2021, Surrogacy Act 2021.
GS 1 – Society / Social Issues
• Gender equity: reducing stigma, psychosocial support for couples.
• Social impact: awareness, education, equitable access to fertility care.
What Is Infertility?
WHO definition
- Failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
Prevalence
- Global prevalence: 1 in 6 individuals (WHO 2023 estimate).
- Affects both men and women.
Types
- Primary infertility: never conceived.
- Secondary infertility: difficulty conceiving after a previous pregnancy.
Why WHO Released the Guideline? (Context)
A. Rising burden
- Demand for infertility services rising due to:
- delayed marriage
- lifestyle changes
- declining fertility rates
- higher prevalence of STIs
- environmental exposures
B. Extreme financial burden
- In many countries, infertility care is out-of-pocket.
- WHO notes:
- A single IVF cycle can cost twice the average annual household income in some regions.
C. Lack of standardised protocols
- Large variation in:
- diagnosis
- treatment
- safety standards
- ethical regulation
D. Mental health impact
- Infertility often causes:
- depression
- anxiety
- stigma
Key Features of WHO’s Global Guideline
(i) Prevention
- Address major risk factors:
- untreated STIs
- tobacco use
- obesity and sedentary lifestyle
- Lifestyle interventions recommended:
- balanced diet
- physical activity
- tobacco cessation
- Promote fertility education:
- Schools
- Primary healthcare
- Reproductive health facilities
(ii) Diagnosis
- Encourage cost-effective diagnostic tools:
- basic semen analysis
- ovulation testing
- ultrasound
- STI screening
- Strengthen referral pathways and documentation.
(iii) Treatment
- Progressive, stepwise approach:
- simple interventions first
- then intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- then IVF/ICSI if necessary
- Ensure:
- safety
- quality control
- evidence-based protocols
(iv) Financial Protection
- Integrate infertility care into:
- national health strategies
- insurance schemes
- public health financing
(v) Psychosocial Support
- Continuous mental health support for:
- individuals
- couples
- Recognise emotional, social, and marital stress.
(vi) Country Adaptation
- Countries urged to:
- localise guidelines
- monitor implementation
- address resource constraints
Global Barriers Highlighted by WHO
A. Cost
- Infertility treatment = catastrophic expenditure for most households.
B. Limited availability
- Fertility services concentrated in urban private facilities.
C. Gender bias
- Women face disproportionate blame.
D. Regulatory gaps
- Many countries lack:
- ART regulation
- quality standards
- ethical oversight
Significance of the Guidelines
For Public Health
- Recognises infertility as a health condition, not a lifestyle choice.
- Strengthens universal access to reproductive healthcare.
For Gender Equity
- Reduces stigma and blame assigned mainly to women.
For Economy
- Financial protection prevents:
- debt traps
- catastrophic health spending
For LMICs
- Offers low-cost, scalable models for fertility care.
For Sustainable Development Goals
- Supports:
- SDG 3 (Health & Well-being)
- SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
Indian Context
Burden
- Estimated 27.5 million infertile couples (ICMR).
- Obesity, PCOS, diabetes, late marriages → rising infertility.
Access
- ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) expensive:
- IVF cost: 1.25–2.5 lakh per cycle
- Mostly urban-centric
- Insurance coverage minimal
Regulatory Framework
- ART Act, 2021
- Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021
Gaps
- Absence of:
- affordable public-sector ART
- standardised counselling
- infertility awareness in primary care
Benefit of WHO Guidelines to India
- Can help expand:
- public fertility clinics
- insurance-based ART packages
- standardised, ethical protocols
CPCB reporting heavy metal contamination in Delhi’s groundwater.
Why is this in News?
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released its 2024 groundwater assessment, revealing:
- Delhi has the 3rd highest uranium contamination in India.
- Heavy metals and salinity indicators (EC, fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, iron, lead) exceed permissible limits in a large share of samples.
- High-risk zones include areas dependent on borewells and handpumps.
- The findings indicate major drinking water safety concerns, with serious public health implications.
Relevance
GS 3 – Environment
• Groundwater contamination: uranium, fluoride, arsenic, lead, EC, SAR, RSC.
• Impact on soil and agriculture: irrigation suitability, soil salinisation, crop productivity.
• Climate & hydrology: urban aquifer depletion, reduced natural recharge.
GS 2 – Governance / Public Health Policy
• Regulatory oversight: CPCB monitoring, drinking water safety standards.
• Urban management: sewage treatment, industrial effluent control, safe borewell practices.
What is Groundwater Contamination?
- Groundwater contamination occurs when chemicals, heavy metals, salts, or pathogens seep into aquifers.
- Key contamination sources:
- Natural geogenic leaching (e.g., uranium, arsenic from rock formations)
- Anthropogenic pollution: industrial effluents, fertilizers, sewage, landfills.
- Measured through:
- Electrical Conductivity (EC) – salinity indicator.
- SAR & RSC – irrigation water quality.
- Heavy metals – arsenic, uranium, lead, iron, fluoride, nitrate.
Key Findings (CPCB 2024)
1. Uranium contamination
- Limit: 0.03 mg/L
- Delhi sample exceedance: 12.4%
- Delhi = 3rd highest in India (after Assam and Rajasthan).
- Uranium contamination is rising in the Yamuna floodplain and Najafgarh belt.
2. Electrical Conductivity (EC)
- Limit: 3000 µS/cm
- Delhi exceedance: 33.3%
- Indicates high salinity in groundwater.
3. SAR (Sodium Adsorption Ratio)
- Delhi showed one of the worst values in India.
- 178.9 SAR reported at some locations.
- 48.3% of samples exceeded limits.
4. RSC (Residual Sodium Carbonate)
- 51.1% of Delhi samples exceeded limits.
- Highest in the country.
5. Heavy Metals
- Fluoride exceedance: 17.8%
- Iron exceedance: 8.9%
- Lead exceedance: 3.7%
- Nitrate exceedance: 4.4%
- Arsenic → detected but lower exceedance.
Why is Delhi’s Groundwater Contaminated?
- Over-extraction leading to saline intrusion.
- Urban sewage and industrial discharge infiltrating aquifers.
- Geogenic factors — natural uranium-bearing granites.
- Land use change & concretisation → reduced natural recharge.
- Use of fertilizers in peri-urban agriculture (nitrate pathways).
Public Health Risks
Uranium
- Kidney toxicity
- Higher cancer risk
- Neurological impairment
Nitrate
- Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia)
- Gastrointestinal distress
Fluoride
- Dental and skeletal fluorosis
Lead
- Cognitive impairment in children
- Hypertension
Iron
- Promotes harmful bacteria growth
- Taste & odor issues
High EC / Salinity
- Cardiovascular issues
- Water unfit for drinking or irrigation
High SAR / RSC
- Soil degradation
- Crop productivity collapse
Environmental & Agricultural Implications
- Irrigation unsuitability: Delhi among worst for SAR & RSC.
- Soil salinisation threatens peri-urban agriculture.
- Reduced crop yields due to sodic soils.
- Aquifer degradation may become irreversible.
Bharat NCAP 2.0.
Why is this in News?
- The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has released a revised draft of Bharat NCAP 2.0.
- It significantly expands safety assessment, introduces new mandatory tests, revises test protocols, and alters scoring weightages.
- It aims to improve passenger, child, and pedestrian safety in line with global crash-test standards.
- The update is crucial because over 20% of road accident deaths in India involve pedestrians.
Relevance
GS 3 – Infrastructure / Transport
• Road safety: vehicle crashworthiness, pedestrian & child safety, post-crash protection.
• Technology standards: ATDs, ADAS, crash-test protocols, global NCAP alignment.
GS 2 – Governance / Policy Implementation
• Regulatory policy: voluntary vs mandatory adoption, incentive structures for manufacturers.
• Consumer awareness: informed decision-making, public safety promotion.
What is Bharat NCAP?
- Bharat NCAP = India’s voluntary crash-test and safety rating system, launched in 2023.
- Objective:
- Provide India-specific safety ratings for cars.
- Encourage manufacturers to improve safety.
- Help consumers make informed choices.
- Cars receive ratings based on crashworthiness (not general roadworthiness).
- Conducted by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT, Pune).
- Ratings displayed voluntarily by manufacturers for marketing & consumer awareness.
How Are Vehicles Tested? (Old System – 2023)
Cars were assessed on three key verticals:
- Adult Occupant Protection (AOP)
- Child Occupant Protection (COP)
- Safety Assist Technologies (SAT)
Crash tests included:
- 64 km/h frontal impact against deformable barrier
- 50 km/h side impact
- 29 km/h pole (oblique) impact
What Changes in Bharat NCAP 2.0?
1. Scope significantly expanded
New system proposes five assessment areas:
- Safe Driving – 10% weightage
- Accident Avoidance – 10%
- Crash Protection – 55%
- Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Protection – 20%
- Post-Crash Safety – 5%
2. Mandatory crash tests increased
Earlier mandatory tests: 3
Now expanded to 5:
- 64 km/h frontal impact
- 50 km/h lateral impact
- 32 km/h mobile deformable barrier test
- 32 km/h oblique side impact (rigid pole)
- 50 km/h frontal impact with full-width rigid barrier
3. Introduction of new assessment areas
New 2025 draft adds three safety domains that were absent earlier:
- More comprehensive Safety Assist Technologies
- Fully structured Pedestrian & VRU Protection Vertical (20% weight)
- A structured Post-Crash Protection vertical
4. Revised weightage
- 5-star: now requires at least 65 points (earlier 70)
- 4-star: now 60 points (earlier 60–70)
- AOP score must be ≥55% of Crash Protection Vertical
- For 1-star → 30 points, 2-star/3-star → 40/50 points
5. New dummies
- Tests will now use advanced “Anthropomorphic Test Devices” (ATDs) for:
- rear-seat passengers
- child occupants
6. VRU (Pedestrian) Safety Added
- India has one of the world’s highest pedestrian fatalities (20%+ road deaths).
- Bharat NCAP 2.0 brings:
- pedestrian headform impact tests
- leg, upper leg impact tests
- bonnet & bumper energy absorption tests
Why Bharat NCAP 2.0 Matters?
1. Enhances vehicle safety
- Compels manufacturers to add:
- stronger structure
- more airbags
- ADAS features
- safer child restraint systems
2. Improves pedestrian safety
- Pedestrian impact tests push automakers to redesign:
- bonnet geometry
- bumper absorption
- external crumple zones
3. Market push toward safer cars
- Indian consumers increasingly look for crash-test ratings.
- Manufacturers will upgrade vehicles to display better Bharat NCAP stars.
4. Regulatory alignment with global norms
- Moves India closer to:
- Global NCAP
- Euro NCAP
- ASEAN NCAP
Potential Issues / Challenges
- Voluntary nature → not applicable to all models.
- Additional costs for manufacturers.
- Rating visibility only when automakers opt-in.
- Some small car segments may face price pressure.
