accessibility glossary

RPwD Act (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act)

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) is India's core disability rights law, and its accessibility rules are the legal foundation for WCAG-based compliance requirements on Indian government and increasingly private-sector websites.

The RPwD Act obligates government establishments to make their information and communication technology accessible, with accessibility standards further detailed through the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) and the IS 17802 technical standard.

While the RPwD Act’s direct web accessibility mandate is strongest for government bodies, sector regulators have extended similar expectations into the private sector, most notably SEBI’s accessibility requirements for listed companies and financial intermediaries. Enforcement has grown more active in recent years, including court rulings citing the RPwD Act’s Article 21-linked right to digital access.

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India Website Accessibility Audit Services (RPwD Act & IS 17802)