Revised PwD exam guidelines put on hold

The government has decided to delay the rollout of its new guidelines for competitive exams for persons with disabilities (PwDs) until the end of this year. The main reason for this deferment is that many exam-conducting bodies are not yet fully ready to implement the new system, and the government is looking out for the candidates’ current needs and convenience before making changes.

According to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), all competitive exams notified up to December 31, 2025, will continue to follow the current rules. However, candidates who wish to use assistive technologies to attempt exams independently can still do so, and exam authorities are encouraged to support them as much as reasonably possible.

The department plans to hold wider consultations with various stakeholders, including exam agencies, the PwD community, and other experts, to fine-tune the guidelines before implementing them.

The clarification comes after last month’s government notification introducing comprehensive new rules under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. These rules aimed to make exams fairer by tightening regulations around the use of scribes. Agencies like UPSC, SSC, and the National Testing Agency were asked to create vetted scribe pools within two years and gradually phase out the “own scribe” system, which had raised concerns about malpractice.

Officials said the deferment gives exam authorities enough time to prepare for this technological shift while ensuring candidates appearing in the upcoming exams are not affected. The department emphasized that all ministries, departments, and exam agencies must strictly follow the revised timelines and ensure smooth implementation once the new framework is ready.

While the government continues to work towards a fairer, tech-driven examination system for PwDs, it is taking a careful, step-by-step approach to protect candidates and ensure everyone is well-prepared for the changes ahead.