The Supreme Court has held that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) must operationalise accessible examination mechanisms for visually impaired candidates, including permitting timely change of scribes and introducing screen-reader technology, in compliance with Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The Bench observed that equal access to public examinations is a constitutional mandate, and that accessibility measures must not remain “paper promises” but must be translated into concrete, time-bound implementation. The Court emphasised that the rights of persons with disabilities are not matters of concession but enforceable guarantees rooted in dignity, non-discrimination, and substantive equality.
The Court noted that although UPSC has taken an in-principle policy decision to introduce Screen Reader Software for visually impaired candidates in forthcoming examinations, it has not yet finalised the operational framework, infrastructure, or timelines for implementation. Since UPSC does not maintain its own examination centres and depends on State authorities and educational institutions, the Court directed coordinated planning and standardisation.
Holding thus, the bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued binding directions to ensure actual implementation — including permitting scribe changes up to seven days before any UPSC examination, deciding such requests within three working days, filing a comprehensive affidavit within two months detailing the rollout roadmap for screen readers, and formulating uniform protocols in coordination with DEPwD and NIEPVD.
“The rights guaranteed to persons with disabilities are not acts of benevolence, but constitutional promises of equality and dignity,” the Court observed, stressing that UPSC must ensure its recruitment process remains accessible, transparent, and fair to all candidates.
Finding that most grievances stood addressed in principle, but implementation gaps remained, the Court disposed of the writ petition while directing strict compliance and listing the matter in February 2026 for monitoring.
Case Title: Mission Accessibility v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2025 INSC 1376