Concerns have often been raised about the safety of passengers in vehicles sold in the Indian market. The government has taken several steps to address these concerns. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a tweet on Friday that he had approved the draft GSR notification to make a minimum of six airbags mandatory for motor vehicles carrying eight people.

Gadkari said this would ultimately ensure the safety of passengers in all segments, regardless of the price variant of the vehicle.

The M-1 vehicle category stipulates that four additional airbags are mandatory for both front and rear compartments to minimize the impact of front and rear collisions. This will include two side airbags and two side curtains, tube airbags that will cover all car passengers. He said that this is an important step to make motor vehicles safer in India than ever before.

India is one of the top countries in terms of the alarming number of road accidents reported every year. These road accidents result in a large number of deaths and serious injuries. While traffic violations are the main reason behind accidents. But inadequate safety measures, especially in small entry-level vehicles, also cause a large number of deaths.