Category: Advocacy & Policy

Non-Negotiable Standards Need Careful Drafting: Reflections on the Draft Revised RPWD Rules
10 Feb
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Non-Negotiable Standards Need Careful Drafting: Reflections on the Draft Revised RPWD Rules

On 12 December 2025 (published on 5 January 2026), the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities invited public feedback on the Draft Revised Rules to amend the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017—specifically on non-negotiable accessibility standards for the built environment. The intent behind this exercise is welcome. It appears aimed at reducingRead more about Non-Negotiable Standards Need Careful Drafting: Reflections on the Draft Revised RPWD Rules[…]

The Pitfalls of Accessibility Certifications in India: What Really Counts
31 Jul
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The Pitfalls of Accessibility Certifications in India: What Really Counts

As awareness around accessibility grows, so does the demand for certifications that validate a building’s inclusiveness. But not all that glitters is gold. A complaint was recently filed with the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) against an international accessibility certification agency operating in India. The complaint, submitted by a group of empanelled accessibilityRead more about The Pitfalls of Accessibility Certifications in India: What Really Counts[…]

An assessment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016
03 Dec
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An assessment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016

It’s been 2 years since The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act was passed by both houses of the Parliament on 16th December 2016. Disability Rights India Foundation (DRIF) in collaboration with National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and National Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD), withRead more about An assessment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016[…]