Persons With Disabilities Bound To Wait For 253 Days For UDID Cards In MP; Over 12k Applications Exceed 6 Months

In Madhya Pradesh, individuals with disabilities are experiencing significant delays in obtaining their Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards, with an average waiting time of 253 days or approximately eight-and-a-half months. According to government data in the Rajya Sabha, 12,213 applications remain pending for over six months, while 14,288 cases have been pending for more than three months.

At present, 18,510 applications are stuck at various stages on the UDID portal. Between 2021 and August 5, 2026, Madhya Pradesh received a total of 458,156 UDID applications, with 402,819 cards issued and 16,396 applications rejected. The UDID card is crucial for persons with disabilities to access government schemes, including pensions, educational benefits, and other assistance.

The extended processing time has caused administrative challenges for beneficiaries who rely on this certificate. During questioning in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B.L. Verma stated that the frequency of District Medical Board meetings, where UDID applications are processed, depends on state government requirements, hospital availability, and the presence of doctors.

The Center does not dictate a uniform meeting schedule. Nationally, more than 593,000 applications have been pending for over six months. The Center has suggested measures such as upgrading the UDID portal, linking the database to Aadhaar, and providing specialized training to doctors to expedite processing. However, the 253-day average processing time in Madhya Pradesh underscores the urgent need for faster verification and resolution of applications at the state and district levels.