UGC Mandates RPwD Act Compliance In Higher Education; Universities Must Submit Disability Data By September 30

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has mandated that universities and their constituent colleges comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 to make higher education more inclusive for students with disabilities. In a notice, UGC Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath stressed the importance of adhering to the RPwD Act, following earlier Supreme Court orders on accessibility and reservation for persons with disabilities.

Universities must submit statistical data on disability-related aspects, such as admissions, recruitment, scholarships, and fellowships, through the UGC Universities Activity Monitoring Portal (UAMP) by September 30, 2026. Key compliance measures include reservation of seats for persons with disabilities, submitting annual data on disability admission to Chief Commissioners or State Commissioners, preparing and implementing accessibility action plans, adopting accessible standards for public buildings, forming Internal Committees for addressing disabilities' needs, and ensuring the proper functioning of Equal Opportunity Cells.

Failure to comply with Section 89 of the RPwD Act can lead to punitive actions. The UGC requires universities to provide a Five-Year statistical report on persons with disabilities through the UAMP by September 30, 2026.