The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) is a disability law passed by the Parliament of India, which came into effect on April 19, 2017. It was enacted to fulfill India's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India ratified in 2007. The Act replaced the earlier Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, marking a shift from a welfare-based approach to a human rights-based model of disability.
The RPwD Act significantly expanded the scope of protection by increasing the recognized categories of disability from seven to 21, including conditions like mental illness, autism, and thalassemia. A key mechanism is the principle of non-discrimination, enshrined in Section 3, which mandates that persons with disability enjoy the right to equality and life with dignity. The Act ensures inclusive education by imposing a duty on government-funded educational institutions to provide reasonable accommodation and prevent discrimination, as detailed in Section 16. For employment, it mandates a reservation of 4% of government jobs for persons with benchmark disabilities, up from the previous 3%. Furthermore, Section 74 provides for the appointment of a Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to safeguard their rights. The Act also aligns with the UNCRPD's focus on accessibility by mandating accessibility in public spaces and transport.