Lok Sabha Question No. 2768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Safety Standards for Cards
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES DEPARTMENT OF HEAVY INDUSTRY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2768 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016

## Safety Standards for Cars

## 2768. SHRI B.V. NAIK:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated safety standards for car manufacturers to make safe cars and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether most of the cars sold in the country do not conform to safety standards and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c)  whether popular car models in the country have failed in safety norms and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to adopt internationally accepted safety norms for the safety of the passengers; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF  HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI  G.M. SIDDESHWARA)

(a): Yes    Madam,  the  Government  has  formulated  safety  standards  for  car  manufacturers  to make safe cars. These are contained in the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) under the Central Motors Vehicles Regulations, 1989 (CMVR). There is provision under rule 126 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 (CMVR) that every manufacturer of motor vehicles other than trailers and semi-trailers requires to submit the prototype of the vehicle to be manufactured by him for test by any of the agencies specified therein for granting a certificate to the compliance of provisions of Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. Rules 126A of CMVR requires the test agencies, referred to in Rule 126, to also conduct test on vehicles drawn from the production line of the manufacturer to verify whether these vehicles conform to the provisions of Rules under Section 110 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. Enforcement of provision of CMV Act and CMV Rules come under the purview of the State Governments/UTs.

Further, India is taking steps towards harmonization of national regulations of safety standards for passenger cars with UN-ECE regulations. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has formed a dedicated panel for introducing safety features in new vehicles under 'Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme' which will be voluntary from October, 2017 and mandatory by October, 2020.

- (b): No  Madam.
- (c): No  Madam, However, if a safety defect which poses risk of accident or harm to the vehicle occupant  is  recognized  in  vehicles,  the  manufacturers  conduct  a  voluntary  recall  and  offer  to rectify the vehicles free of charge.
- (d)  &  (e):    All  safety  norms  prescribed  under  the  CMVR  1989  are  based  on  the  UN/European Regulations which are internationally accepted. Some of the regulations like Frontal Crash Test which requires  mandatory  fitment  of  airbags,  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  has already notified crash regulations for new vehicles from 1 st April, 2017.

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