Maarg Manthan · Topic 15.9

Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) for Divyangjan

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan · Topic 15.9

The Accessible India Campaign, or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, is a national flagship campaign of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, launched by the Prime Minister on 3 December 2015, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Its aim is universal accessibility so that persons with disabilities can move, use services and get information on an equal basis. The campaign works on three verticals: the built environment, transport systems and the information and communication technology ecosystem. It sets targets for government buildings, airports, railway stations, buses and websites, and the deadlines were extended more than once.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

At a Glance

Launched 3 December 2015
Department Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
Verticals Built environment, transport, ICT ecosystem
Legal link Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
Tool Sugamya Bharat mobile app
Aim Universal accessibility
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

Where Does It Fit?

This topic is a campaign for barrier-free access and links to the main disability law, covered later in the macro on recent acts. The next topic covers aids and appliances. Previous topic: Scheme for Development of Minorities (Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram). Next topic: Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme (ADIP).

What Are the Three Verticals of the Campaign?

Vertical	Focus
Built environment	Make government buildings, public spaces and facilities accessible with ramps, lifts, tactile paths, accessible toilets and signage, following harmonised accessibility guidelines
Transport system	Accessible airports, railway stations, buses and bus stops, with low-floor vehicles, audio and visual signs and trained staff
ICT ecosystem	Accessible government websites following web content accessibility guidelines, captioning and sign language in TV news, and accessible electronic content
Access audits	Buildings and transport are audited by trained auditors, and action plans are made for each State
Sugamya Pustakalaya	An online library of accessible books for persons with print disabilities
Sugamya Bharat app	A mobile app to report accessibility gaps with photographs, and to track their fixing

What Is the Legal Base and Status?

Law: the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 requires accessibility in the built environment, transport and information, with time limits for existing premises, as in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Provisions, 2018
Convention: India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007, which includes accessibility in Article 9
Targets: the campaign set time-bound targets for government buildings, airports, stations and websites, but the deadlines were extended several times
Audit findings: audits and reports have shown that a large share of audited buildings and stations were only partly accessible, as reported
Court ruling: in the Rajive Raturi case in November 2024 the Supreme Court held that accessibility is a part of the right to equality and life and asked the Centre to frame mandatory rules, as reported
Funding: a central grant supports accessibility works and the Accessible India scheme is funded through the ministry’s budget
Role of states: states must frame their own rules and make buildings under their control accessible
Present status: the campaign continues as an ongoing mission, and progress should be checked on the department’s portal and in replies to Parliament

What Else Should You Remember?

Social model: the campaign follows a social model of disability, which locates the barrier in the environment and not in the person
Divyangjan: the term was introduced in 2015 to replace disabled, and the department was renamed the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) in 2016
Numbers: the 2011 Census counted about 2.68 crore persons with disabilities, or 2.21 per cent, while other surveys give higher estimates
Universal design: designs that work for all users, including older people and parents with prams
Link to ADIP: aids and appliances are given under a different scheme, as in Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme (ADIP)
Link to elections: the Election Commission offers accessible polling features, which show the wider idea of access
Link to urban schemes: smart city and metro projects use accessibility norms
Criticism: weak enforcement, no penalty for non-compliance and audits that are not followed by action
Challenges: old buildings, cost, lack of trained auditors and low awareness among engineers and architects
Way forward: mandatory rules with penalties, accessibility as a condition for funds and building approval, and public dashboards with audit results

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 3 December 2015, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Verticals: built environment, transport, ICT
Department: Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under Social Justice
Legal link: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
Common errors: treating it as an aids scheme or placing it under Health

As an analytical point, accessibility is cheaper to build in at the design stage than to retrofit later. Without penalties and audits that lead to action, targets slip and persons with disabilities remain excluded.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Prelims Launch and verticals are asked as facts
Mains Rights of persons with disabilities and accessibility
Linkage Joins RPwD Act, ADIP and urban schemes

What Came Next?

The next topic covers aids and appliances for persons with disabilities. Next topic: Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme (ADIP).

Key People and Terms

Sugamya Bharat Accessible India
Divyangjan Persons with disabilities
Universal design Design for all users
Access audit Check of accessibility
Print disability Difficulty reading print
ICT Information and communication technology

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 3 December 2015.
Three verticals: built environment, transport, ICT.
Department: Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Legal base: RPwD Act, 2016.
Tools: Sugamya Bharat app, Sugamya Pustakalaya.

Do Not Confuse With

Accessible India Campaign and ADIP Barrier-free access versus aids and appliances
Divyangjan and persons with disabilities A 2015 term versus the legal term in the 2016 Act
Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Accessibility campaign versus cleanliness campaign

Memory Hook

Three verticals, three December, one goal: access for all.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about disability rights and accessibility. These points give a balanced frame.

Aim Universal accessibility
Gaps Missed deadlines and weak enforcement
Way forward Mandatory rules and audits

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Why have accessibility targets for persons with disabilities repeatedly been missed in India? Suggest reforms.”

How to Answer

Intro Explain the campaign and the RPwD Act.
Reasons Weak enforcement, cost, retrofitting.
Court role Right to accessibility.
Way Mandatory rules, penalties, audits.

GS Relevance

Prelims: launch, department, three verticals, mobile app. GS Paper 2: welfare of persons with disabilities, accessibility, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Accessible India Campaign?

The Accessible India Campaign, or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, is a national campaign launched on 3 December 2015 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. It seeks barrier-free access in buildings, transport and information technology so that persons with disabilities can take part equally.

Which department runs the Accessible India Campaign?

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, runs the campaign. It works with states, the Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation, Railways and Electronics and Information Technology, and with expert access auditors.

What are the three verticals of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan?

The three verticals are the built environment, which covers government buildings and public spaces, the transport system, which covers airports, railway stations and buses, and the information and communication technology ecosystem, which covers accessible websites, captioning and sign language in broadcast content.

Who benefits from the Accessible India Campaign?

Persons with disabilities, including those with mobility, visual, hearing and cognitive impairments, benefit directly, and older people and parents with young children gain too. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognises 21 disabilities and requires accessible environments.

What is the latest status of the Accessible India Campaign?

The campaign continues, but target dates for government buildings, stations and websites were extended several times and audits showed partial compliance. In November 2024 the Supreme Court asked the Centre to frame mandatory accessibility rules, as reported, so the department portal should be checked for updates.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Accessible India Campaign was launched on 3 December 2015.

True

This is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

2 The campaign has two verticals.

False

It has three verticals.

3 The campaign is run by the Ministry of Health.