RPwD Act 2016

India's Rights Law for Accessibility.
21 Disabilities Recognized.
One Standard to Build Toward.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 mandates accessible ICT for government and private organizations across India. We test and remediate against IS 17802 and WCAG 2.1 AA, the technical standards behind India's accessibility mandate.

What is the RPwD Act, 2016?

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 is India's primary disability rights legislation, replacing the earlier 1995 Act and aligning national law with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It expanded recognized disabilities from 7 to 21, and Sections 40–46 specifically mandate accessibility standards for the physical environment, transportation, and information and communication technology (ICT).

At D2i Technology, we test and remediate digital properties against IS 17802 - India's national ICT accessibility standard - and WCAG 2.1 AA, giving you a defensible position against both the RPwD Act and its supporting rules.

Non-compliance carries consequence: the Act empowers Chief and State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities to investigate complaints, and failure to comply can result in penalties, reputational damage, and legal proceedings under Sections 89–91.

RPwD Act Essentials

IS 17802 Standard
WCAG 2.1 AA
Sections 40-46
21 Disabilities
Accessible India Campaign
Government & Private Sector
Accessibility Audits
State Commissioners

What the RPwD Act Covers

The Act spans rights, accessibility mandates, and the institutions that enforce them

Equality & Non-Discrimination

Prohibits discrimination and guarantees equal protection under the law for persons with disabilities.

Accessibility (Sections 40-46)

Mandates accessibility standards for the built environment, transportation, and ICT.

Education & Employment

Reservation and inclusion requirements across government jobs and higher education.

Institutional Mechanisms

Establishes Central and State Advisory Boards and Commissioners to enforce the Act.

What is IS 17802?

IS 17802 is the Bureau of Indian Standards' national standard for ICT products and services accessibility - the technical benchmark most organizations use to demonstrate they meet the RPwD Act's Section 40–46 mandate. It's closely aligned with WCAG 2.1 and EN 301 549, so accessibility work done to IS 17802 largely carries over to those standards as well.

Web Accessibility
Mobile Accessibility
Software & Systems
Documents & Media

Who Needs to Comply?

Compliance spans government and private organizations operating in India

Government ministries, departments, and agencies
Educational institutions, public and private
Private enterprises providing goods and services
Healthcare, banking, and telecom organizations

Failure to comply can result in reputational damage, legal proceedings under Sections 89-91 of the Act, and exclusion from public procurement processes that require accessibility conformance.

Why RPwD Act Compliance Matters

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

Avoids penalties and legal proceedings tied directly to the Act.

Social Inclusion

Removes real barriers for the roughly 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India.

Alignment with Global Standards

IS 17802 and WCAG alignment keep you compliant well beyond India's borders.

Enhanced Public Trust & Reach

Signals a genuine commitment to inclusion and expands your addressable audience.

Our RPwD Act Compliance Services

Everything you need to meet the RPwD Act's digital accessibility mandate

Not sure how RPwD applies to you?

Get a free scan and a plain-English summary of what needs fixing first.

Get a Free Scan

Engagement Models for RPwD Act Compliance

Whether you need a one-time audit or ongoing coverage as your platform grows, we offer engagement models that match your RPwD Act compliance timeline.

One-Time Audit

A full audit against IS 17802 and WCAG 2.1 AA, delivered as a prioritized findings report.

  • Automated + manual testing
  • Findings mapped to IS 17802 & WCAG
  • Fixed timeline & deliverable

Audit + Remediation

We find the issues and fix them directly in your codebase, then re-test with real assistive technology.

  • End-to-end fix delivery
  • Manual re-verification
  • Fixed scope & milestones

Ongoing Monitoring Retainer

Recurring scans, periodic manual reviews, and developer support so new features stay compliant.

  • Recurring automated scans
  • Quarterly manual spot-checks
  • Predictable monthly billing
65+
Happy Clients
85+
Projects
17+
Years of experience

Our RPwD Act Compliance Process

A structured path from first audit to sustained IS 17802 / WCAG 2.1 AA conformance

  1. Step 01

    Discovery

    Scope pages, templates, and user flows to audit

  2. Step 02

    Automated Scan

    Tooling sweep across every page in scope

  3. Step 03

    Manual Testing

    Screen reader, keyboard, and contrast review

  4. Step 04

    Findings Report

    Prioritized issues mapped to IS 17802 & WCAG

  5. Step 05

    Remediation

    Fixes implemented directly in your codebase

  6. Step 06

    Verification

    Re-testing to confirm fixes hold under real use

Ready to meet the RPwD Act's accessibility mandate?

Testing backed by real assistive technology, not just automated scores.

Talk to an RPwD Act Expert

How the RPwD Act Connects to Other Standards

RPwD Act compliance work overlaps with India's own digital standards and global frameworks

Technical Standard

IS 17802 WCAG 2.1 AA

Government Websites

GIGW 3.0

International Framework

UNCRPD Accessible India Campaign

Global Equivalents

ADA (United States) European Accessibility Act

Why Choose D2i Technology?

We combine certified accessibility specialists with real assistive-technology testing and hands-on remediation - not just an automated score.

Real Assistive Technology Testing

We test with NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver, not just automated tools scoring against a checklist.

Engineering-Led Remediation

Our developers fix issues directly in your codebase, so you leave with working code, not just a report.

IS 17802-Ready Documentation

Conformance reports built from real test evidence, ready for regulators and procurement review.

Ongoing Monitoring

We stay engaged after go-live, catching regressions as your product evolves.

Cost-Effective Engagement

India-based delivery rates without compromising on the depth of testing.

  • Every page tested against IS 17802 and WCAG 2.1 AA
  • Screen reader and keyboard flows verified by hand
  • Fixes implemented in your actual codebase
  • Accessibility policy and documentation on file
  • Monitoring in place to catch future regressions

Frequently Asked Questions

Achieve RPwD Act Compliance with Confidence

Whether you're a government body or a private organization, D2i Technology is ready. Let's make your digital experience work for every user, in line with India's accessibility law.