Disability

For women with disabilities, an inclusive India is a distant country

Their share in education and workplace is much smaller than that of men with disabilities

Why disabled people face higher chronic illness risks and miss early care

Disabled people face higher risks of diabetes and hypertension, yet often miss early screening due to access barriers, fragmented care and gaps in disability-aware services

UP CM urges citizens to help build 'barrier-free India' for disables

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday urged people and officials to work with sensitivity and commitment to create a barrier-free India for persons with disabilities. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of Vishwa Divyang Diwas (International Day of Persons with Disabilities), the chief minister said, " Let us be sensitive, let us be supportive. Let us honestly fulfil our role in building a barrier-free India for 'divyangjan' (persons with disabilities)." "I want to say only one thing -- every small effort can bring a new change," he added. Adityanath said 'divyangjan' remain an essential part of the nation's strength. You are no less than anyone. Your courage, talent and success are the strength of a new India. The government and society stand firmly with you. With full confidence, I assure you that every kind of support will be provided, he said. He added that the state government is committed to ensuring that all schemes and benefits meant for 'divyangjan'

SC orders Samay Raina, others to host two monthly events for disability aid

The court was hearing a petition filed by Cure SMA India Foundation, which sought action against online content that it said violated the right to life and dignity of persons with disabilities

Over 80% of Indians with disabilities lack health cover: NGO white paper

More than 80 per cent of Indians with disabilities remain uninsured, and over half of those who apply are often rejected without explanation despite legal safeguards meant to ensure equal access to health coverage, a new white paper released on Thursday has found. The report, titled Inclusive Health Coverage for All: Disability, Discrimination and Health Insurance in India, was launched by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) at a roundtable attended by policymakers, insurers, and disability rights advocates. Drawing on a nationwide survey of over 5,000 persons with disabilities across 34 states and union territories, the study warns that deep systemic inequities continue to block nearly 16 crore disabled Indians from both public and private insurance schemes. According to the findings, 80 per cent of respondents had no health insurance, while 53 per cent of those who applied said their applications were rejected. Many reported being turned a

Centre defers new exam guidelines for disabled students till Dec 31

The government has deferred the implementation of its recently issued revised guidelines for conducting competitive examinations for persons with disabilities (PwDs) until the year end, citing lack of preparedness among examining bodies and the immediate interest of candidates. In an office memorandum, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) clarified that all competitive public examinations notified until the end of this year may continue under the existing framework. "In view of the likely lack of preparedness of examining bodies for introduction and application of technology for conduct of exams and keeping in mind both larger and immediate interest of the Divyangjan community, this is to state that all the competitive public examinations notified/ to be notified until and including December 31, 2025 may be conducted as per the system in vogue before issuing the said guidelines," the memorandum said. However, candidates willing to use assistive ...

Govt issues new draft with accessibility standards for everyday products

The government has come up with draft accessibility standards for everyday products like kitchenware, furniture and grooming items, proposing non-negotiable rules such as universal design, braille, tactile features and clear labelling on them to ensure barrier-free access for persons with disabilities. Prepared by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and directions of the Supreme Court, the draft framework is anchored in the globally recognised "POUR" approach, requiring that products must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust. This translates into equitable use for all, simple and intuitive designs, tolerance for errors, minimal physical effort, and adequate space for wheelchair or mobility-aid users. The draft sets accessibility rules across 20 major categories of everyday use. The draft covers a wide range of everyday products from kitchenware, food packaging and grooming

Govt tightens rules on scribes for disabled candidates in competitive exams

The Centre has tightened the rules on the use of scribes in competitive examinations for persons with disabilities (PwDs), making it mandatory for examining bodies to prepare their own vetted scribe pools within two years and phasing out the widely used "own scribe" system flagged for malpractice. The revised guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, aim to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity in exams while aligning them with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The comprehensive framework is applicable to all competitive written public examinations linked to jobs and admissions in professional and technical courses. It incorporates directives of the Supreme Court and aligns with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The guidelines emphasise that candidates should be encouraged to attempt

Tripura increases monthly disability allowance from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000

As per the announcement, the monthly allowance for persons with more than 60% disability has been increased from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, with a valid certificate being mandatory to avail the benefit

SC stresses need to create awareness on rights of people with disabilities

Supreme Court judge Justice Manmohan on Saturday highlighted the need to create sensitisation and awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. Justice Manmohan said the courts have and will deliver verdicts on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, but the other organs of the State also have to rise to the occasion. He was speaking at a conference held here on 'Judging and lawyering at the margins disability rights and beyond'. The conference was organised by Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation in collaboration with Qable. "The need of the hour is to create sensitisation, to create awareness. And I think the more awareness is there about the Act, about the rights that are available, the more the society will understand, the more the courts will understand and it will ensure more compliance," said Justice Manmohan when asked about the issue concerning implementation of the judgements. He also spoke on the issue regarding continuous monitoring by the .

Sebi asks institutions to ensure digital access for special-needs persons

Capital markets regulator on Thursday directed all regulated entities to make their digital platforms accessible to persons with disabilities, in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. In a circular, Sebi said, "The move is aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and ensuring their full and effective participation in the securities market". The directive follows a Supreme Court verdict dated April 30, 2025, that recognised digital access as a fundamental right under the right to life and liberty. The mandate applies to all Sebi-regulated entities (REs), including stock exchanges, clearing corporations, depositories, brokers, mutual funds, and KYC agencies. They must ensure compliance with key provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act and related rules to facilitate access to websites, mobile apps and other platforms. Sebi said the regulated entities (REs) must submit lists of their digital platforms and .

Meta builds gesture-based wristband for hands-free device control: Report

Meta's sEMG wristband detects muscle signals to enable gesture-based computer control, helping users with motor disabilities interact with digital systems non-invasively and on the move

Samay Raina, others appear in SC over remarks 'ridiculing' disabled

Five social media influencers, including "India's Got Latent" host Samay Raina, on Tuesday appeared before the Supreme Court in a case seeking action against them for ridiculing persons suffering from disabilities. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi recorded the presence of the social media influencers and asked them to file their replies to the petition. It also asked them to appear again in-person on the next date of hearing of the case. The top court, however, granted exemption to influencer Sonali Thakkar alias Sonali Aditya Desai to appear virtually on the next date of hearing due to some physical condition. The bench said the social media influencers will have to file their replies in two weeks and no further extension will be granted to them and that their absence on the next date of hearing will be viewed seriously. The top court asked Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, to prepare social media guidelines by keeping balance of freedo

Notice to ICICI Bank for excluding visually impaired from digital banking

The plea filed in the Delhi High Court alleges that the ICICI Bank's digital platforms fall short of accessibility standards, making it difficult for visually impaired people to carry out basic tasks

Draft policy proposes major changes to transport systems of specially abled

A new draft framework has proposed sweeping changes to transport systems to make them more accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs), including mandatory wheelchair space in buses and Metro trains, step-free toilets at stations, level boarding ramps, and trained staff across air, rail and road transport networks. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has invited comments and suggestions from the stakeholders and general public on the draft accessibility standards for the transport and mobility sector. The draft 'Transport Accessibility Framework' has been prepared by the Strategic Accessibility Cell Rights of Riders (SAC-RR). It lays out detailed, enforceable standards across the transport chain from booking and boarding to infrastructure, vehicles and emergency response. Most measures are marked non-negotiable, meaning they would be binding once the guidelines take effect. The department said

Delhi govt issues admission guidelines for children with special needs

The Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) released guidelines for admission of children with special needs (CWSN) for entry level classes in private schools. According to a circular issued on Friday, children with benchmark disabilities are eligible to apply. The term "benchmark disability" refers to a person with not less than 40 per cent of a specified disability that needs to be certified by a government hospital as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016. Children identified with intellectual disability, specific learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, or related categories may also be considered based on assessment or diagnostic reports, the circular stated. The age criteria for special needs applicants as of March 31, 2025 should be 3-7 years for pre-school/nursery, 4-8 years for kindergarten, and 5-9 years for class 1, as per the circular. It stated that the online module for applications will open on Monday (June 2) and the last date for submissio

Govt gets SC notice on plea asking better facilities for disabled prisoners

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking adequate facilities for disabled prisoners in jails, and implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, in prisons across the country. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Union of India and others on a plea filed by activist Sathyan Naravoor. "Issue notice, returnable within four weeks," it said. Citing instances of professor G N Saibaba and activist Stan Swamy to highlight the "severe neglect" of disabled prisoners, the plea said necessary provisions should be incorporated in the existing Prisons Act to address the special needs of disabled inmates. Former Delhi University professor Saibaba died on October 12 last year at a state-run hospital in Hyderabad due to health-related complications, seven months after he was acquitted in a case of alleged links with Maoists after 10 years in prison. Swamy, arrested in the Bhima-Koregaon case, died at Mumbai's

Amazon partners with Youth4Jobs to empower women sellers with disabilities

E-commerce major Amazon India has partnered with Youth4Jobs Foundation to support women sellers with disabilities by providing essential resources, tools, and training to succeed in the digital e-commerce ecosystem. Under the partnership, Amazon Saheli programme will conduct workshops and provide onboarding and account management support for these women sellers, according to a company statement. The alliance aims to bridge the gap between talented women with disabilities and wider market opportunities, and help them leverage the Amazon platform to grow their business online, it said. The women sellers will get hands-on training in digital marketing, performance marketing, product listing optimisation, and advertising solutions to help them establish a robust online business. They will also get access to data-driven insights and metrics to attain a greater understanding of customer behaviour, expectations, and key market trends. "Our collaboration with Youth4Jobs aims to support wo

Govt marginally expands Budget for social justice, disability welfare

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has received Rs 13,611 crore in the Union Budget announced on Saturday, while the allocation for disability welfare now stands at Rs 1,275 crore. This is a 35.75 per cent rise in allocation over the revised estimate for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2024-25, which stood at Rs 10,026.40 crore. The allocation for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the Union Budget 2025-26 was 9.22 per cent more than the revised estimate of the ongoing fiscal which is Rs 1167.27 crore. In this year's Budget, the government has allocated Rs 472 crore under the Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS) for Scheduled Castes, covering programmes like the National Fellowship for SCs (Rs 212 crore), Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs (Rs 20 crore), Top Class Education for SCs (Rs 110 crore), and National Overseas Scholarship for SCs (Rs 130 crore). A separate allocation of Rs 250.13 cro

Manual scavenging, accessibility reforms among Centre's agenda for 2025

Building on the groundwork laid in 2024, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will be focussing on achieving nationwide manual scavenging-free status and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities next year. Even though the ministry has time and again said that manual scavenging no longer exists in the country, only 257 districts have uploaded their manual scavenging-free certificates on the central government portal. The ministry has urged the remaining districts to update their status promptly. Under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem' (NAMASTE) scheme, 54,574 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled, of whom 37,060 (67 per cent) belong to the Scheduled Castes category, a senior official said. The ministry aims to prioritise their rehabilitation next year. Also, the NAMASTE scheme will expand further in 2025, with plans to profile 2,50,000 waste pickers across the country, the official said. The programme will offer waste pickers