The RPWD Act Has Teeth Now: Why Indian Businesses Can No Longer Ignore Digital Accessibility

For years, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 was treated as framework legislation — important in principle, but rarely enforced in practice. That changed in early 2025. The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has begun formally fining establishments for non-compliance, the auditor ecosystem has been formalised, and the complaint portal is actively generating case orders every single month. India's accessibility law now has consequences.

What the Law Actually Requires

Section 46 of the RPwD Act 2016 mandates that all content in audio, print, and electronic media must be in accessible formats. This isn't limited to government bodies. The act applies broadly to establishments receiving government funding, educational institutions, and any entity providing services to the public. Practically, this means your website, mobile app, and digital content must be usable by persons with disabilities.

Enforcement That's Actually Happening

In February 2025, the CCPD issued a formal letter imposing fines on establishments that had not filed Access Audit Reports or engaged an empanelled auditor. The same month, the DEPwD published an official list of empanelled web accessibility auditors — the infrastructure needed to operationalise mandatory audits.

The CCPD handles a continuous case load: orders are published every month across employment, reasonable accommodation, and accessibility complaints. The suo-motu case track allows the CCPD to act even without a formal complaint from an individual.

Waiting for a complaint to arrive before acting on accessibility is no longer a viable strategy.

What Constitutes Compliance

The GIGW 3.0 standard (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) is the practical benchmark for digital accessibility in India. An Access Audit Report from an empanelled or IAAP-certified auditor is increasingly the required documentation. The minimum steps: engage a qualified auditor, document current conformance gaps, begin remediation on high-priority issues, and publish an accessibility statement.

The Cost of Non-Action

India has approximately 26.8 million persons with disabilities per the 2011 Census — a figure widely considered an undercount. The actual number of Indians who rely on accessible digital interfaces is far higher, including elderly users and those with situational impairments. Businesses that exclude these users aren't just at legal risk. They're leaving customers on the table.