Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The Act replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights, and Full Participations) Act, 1995 and honor India’s commitment to United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Salient Features of the Act: The types of Disabilities have been increased from 7 to 21, with additions like mental illness and acid attack victims.

• Additional benefits such as reservation in higher education (not less than 5%), government jobs (not less than 4 %), reservation in allocation of land, poverty alleviation schemes (5% allotment), etc. have been provided for persons with benchmark disabilities and those with high support needs.
• Government funded educational institutions as well as the government recognized institutions will have to provide inclusive education to the children with disabilities.
• Broad based Central & State Advisory Boards on Disability are to be set up to serve as apex policy making bodies at the Central and State level.
• Creation of National and State Fund will be created to provide financial support to the persons with disabilities.
• Provision for free education for children with disabilities from age 6 to 18.
• Special Courts will be designated in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs.