Inclusive Education and Examination Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities
To promote and facilitate inclusive education, Section 17 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 provides for suitable modifications in the examination system to meet the needs of students with disabilities. These modifications include the provision of a scribe or assistance, and extra time for completing examination papers.
A Committee headed by the Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) reviewed issues raised by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding written examinations for persons with disabilities (PwDs). Based on the Committee’s findings, the Central Government issued revised guidelines on 29th August, 2018 for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Subsequently, in compliance with an order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Vikas Kumar vs. UPSC and others, another Office Memorandum (OM) was issued on 10th August, 2022. These revised guidelines allow examinees below the benchmark disability to also avail the facility of a scribe or assistance, subject to certification by a prescribed medical authority. Examinees are allowed to bring a scribe of their choice.
The guidelines dated 10th August, 2022 are independent of the guidelines dated 29th August, 2018. Further consultations are ongoing with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), recruitment agencies, stakeholders, and others in light of DoPT’s new legislation titled “The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.”