DEPwD Issues Draft Rules on ICT Accessibility

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has released the Draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Rules, 2026, proposing a comprehensive implementation framework for accessibility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. The draft is currently open for stakeholder consultation.

While the RPwD (Amendment) Rules, 2023 had already adopted IS 17802 (Part 1): 2021 and IS 17802 (Part 2): 2022 as the applicable accessibility standards, insights on who would be covered, how compliance would be demonstrated, and what the implementation roadmap.

This draft seeks to address those questions.

Some of the key proposals include:

Broad scope of applicability

The draft applies to establishments that manufacture, design, develop, exercise decisive technical control over, or directly or indirectly make available ICT products and services in India. The proposed scope covers a wide range of ICT offerings, including hardware, software, websites, mobile applications, digital content, electronic documents, and consumer ICT products.

Introduction of Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs)

Perhaps the most significant proposal is the introduction of Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs).

Covered establishments would be required to prepare and maintain ACRs demonstrating conformance with IS 17802, make them publicly available, update them whenever there is a major product change or the applicable standards are revised (at least once every two years), and have them signed by senior management or another authorised officer. BIS is also proposed to prescribe a standard ACR format within 90 days after the Rules are notified.

Phased implementation

Establishments with an annual turnover of ₹500 crore or more would be required to implement the specified non-negotiable accessibility requirements within one year of the publication of the final Rules.

Establishments with a turnover of less than ₹500 crore would have eighteen months to meet these requirements.

Full compliance with the applicable accessibility standards is proposed within two years of the publication of the final Rules.

Strengthened compliance and enforcement

The draft also introduces a structured compliance framework including mandatory Accessibility Conformance Reports, grievance redressal mechanisms, regulatory oversight, Government procurement requirements, proposed amendments to sector-specific Quality Control Orders (QCOs), and the constitution of a National Accessibility ICT Committee to oversee implementation.

Why this matters

If finalized in their current form, these Rules would move accessibility beyond a technical standard and establish a structured compliance framework for the ICT sector.

Manufacturers, importers, software and app developers, digital service providers, industry associations, accessibility professionals, and legal and compliance teams should review the draft carefully, assess its potential impact on their products and services, and consider participating in the ongoing public consultation.

The draft also raises several practical implementation questions, for example, the allocation of compliance responsibilities across device manufacturers, operating system providers, application developers and digital marketplaces, which may benefit from stakeholder feedback before the Rules are finalised.

With accessibility becoming an increasingly important aspect of product compliance and digital governance, this is likely to be one of the most significant regulatory developments for the ICT sector in recent years and one that stakeholders should closely follow.