Maarg Manthan · Topic 15.10

Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme (ADIP)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan · Topic 15.10

The Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase and Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) is a central sector scheme of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, running since 1981, to help persons with disabilities buy durable, scientific, modern and standard aids and appliances such as artificial limbs, wheelchairs, hearing aids, braille kits and cochlear implants. The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a public sector company in Kanpur set up in 1972, is the main implementing agency, together with national institutes, district centres and NGOs. Beneficiaries must hold a disability certificate or Unique Disability ID and meet an income test.

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

At a Glance

Full name Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase and Fitting of Aids and Appliances
Department Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
Started 1981
Type Central sector scheme
Main agency ALIMCO, Kanpur
Sister scheme Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana for senior citizens
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and Divyangjan

Where Does It Fit?

This is the last topic of the macro on schemes for SC, ST, OBC, minorities and divyangjan. It supplies aids, while the previous topic on accessibility removes barriers in the environment. Previous topic: Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) for Divyangjan. Next topic: The Three Farm Laws and Their Repeal (2020–21).

What Aids Does ADIP Provide and Who Gets Them?

Feature	Details
Purpose	Help persons with disabilities buy aids and appliances that improve physical, social and psychological rehabilitation and increase economic potential
Aids covered	Artificial limbs and calipers, wheelchairs and tricycles, crutches, hearing aids, braille kits, smart canes, smartphones for the blind and assistive devices for learning disabilities
Cochlear implant	A programme under ADIP supports surgery and implant for young children with severe hearing loss, with a ceiling per child, as notified
Eligibility	An Indian citizen with at least 40 per cent disability, proved by a certificate or Unique Disability ID, and a monthly income within the limit
Income test	A monthly income limit of 22,500 rupees has been reported for the scheme, with full cost for lower incomes and a share for higher, as per the revised norms, so students should check the current notified figure
Implementation	ALIMCO, national institutes, district disability rehabilitation centres and NGOs hold assessment and distribution camps

ALIMCO: set up in 1972 at Kanpur as a public sector company that makes artificial limbs and aids, now a leading maker of assistive devices in India
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: a scheme from 2017 that gives physical aids and assisted living devices to senior citizens from below-poverty-line households, mostly through ALIMCO
Camps: assessment and distribution camps are held with local bodies, often with MPs and other public representatives
Pradhanmantri Divyasha Kendra: ALIMCO began setting up centres at national institutes and regional centres to widen coverage, as reported in late 2025
Unique Disability ID: a national database and card for persons with disabilities, built to carry all benefits in one place
Sugamya Bharat link: accessibility in the environment is the focus of another programme, as in Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) for Divyangjan
Legal base: the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 requires assistive devices as part of the right to rehabilitation, as in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Provisions, 2018
Technology: the ministry has promoted indigenous assistive technologies, such as smart canes and prosthetics, with research bodies

What Else Should You Remember?

Why a central sector scheme: the Centre bears the full cost and releases funds to implementing agencies, which avoids state delay
International Year: the scheme began in 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons
Costs: aids are expensive for low-income households, and many buy poor quality devices without the scheme
Geography: rural and remote districts have few rehabilitation centres, so camps are needed
Persons with disabilities: the 2011 Census counted about 2.68 crore persons with disabilities, or 2.21 per cent of the population
21 disabilities: the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognises 21 specified disabilities
Related scholarships: students with disabilities also get education support, as in Post-Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship Schemes for SC/ST/OBC Students for a comparison of other groups
Criticism: long waiting times, quality and repair concerns, limited coverage of costly devices and a rigid income test
Challenges: late issue of disability certificates, low awareness and poor after-sales service
Way forward: raise and index the income limit, add repair and replacement support, use direct benefit transfer where suitable and build local fitting centres

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Start and type: 1981; central sector
Agency: ALIMCO, a public sector company at Kanpur
Department: Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
Senior citizens: Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana for BPL elderly
Common errors: confusing ADIP with the accessibility campaign or the UDID

As an analytical point, aids change lives when they fit well and are repaired on time. A scheme that counts devices handed out but not their use over years misses the real outcome.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Prelims Full name, agency and start year
Mains Disability rights and assistive technology
Linkage Joins UDID, RPwD Act and accessibility

What Came Next?

The next macro covers recently enacted acts, bills and amendments. Next topic: The Three Farm Laws and Their Repeal (2020–21).

Key People and Terms

ADIP Assistance to Disabled Persons scheme
ALIMCO Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
UDID Unique Disability ID
Cochlear implant Device for severe hearing loss
RVY Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
Prosthesis Artificial limb

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

ADIP running since 1981; central sector scheme.
Main agency: ALIMCO, Kanpur, set up 1972.
Department: Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Eligibility: at least 40 per cent disability and an income test.
Elderly sister scheme: Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.

Do Not Confuse With

ADIP and Accessible India Campaign Aids to individuals versus access in the environment
ADIP and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Persons with disabilities versus BPL senior citizens
UDID and disability certificate A national card and database versus the certificate of disability

Memory Hook

ADIP, 1981, ALIMCO: aids for all who need.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about assistive technology and rehabilitation. These points give a balanced frame.

Role Mobility, hearing and learning
Gaps Income test and after-sales service
Way forward Indexing and local repair

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“How can assistive technology improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities? Discuss with reference to ADIP.”

How to Answer

Intro Explain ADIP and the aids.
Benefits Mobility, education, work.
Gaps Cost, quality, income limit.
Way Repair, indexing, local fitting.

GS Relevance

Prelims: scheme full name, start year, agency, aids, income test. GS Paper 2: welfare of persons with disabilities, assistive technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ADIP scheme?

ADIP is the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase and Fitting of Aids and Appliances, a central sector scheme that has run since 1981. It helps persons with disabilities buy modern, durable aids such as artificial limbs, wheelchairs, hearing aids and braille kits.

Which ministry runs ADIP?

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs ADIP. The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India is the main implementing agency, working with national institutes, district centres and NGOs.

Who is eligible for ADIP?

An Indian citizen with at least 40 per cent disability, shown by a certificate or Unique Disability ID, and a monthly income within the prescribed limit can apply. A limit of 22,500 rupees per month has been reported, so the notified figure should be checked before applying.

What aids are given under ADIP?

The scheme covers artificial limbs and calipers, wheelchairs, tricycles, crutches, hearing aids, braille kits, smart canes and assistive devices for learning disabilities, and it supports cochlear implant surgery for children with severe hearing loss, through assessment and distribution camps.

What is the latest status of ADIP?

The scheme continues, and in late 2025 ALIMCO began setting up Pradhanmantri Divyasha Kendras at national institutes and regional centres, as reported. Income limits and ceilings change with revisions, so the department site and ALIMCO should be checked for current norms.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 ADIP is a central sector scheme.

True

It has run since 1981.

2 ALIMCO is the main implementing agency of ADIP.

True

It is based in Kanpur.

3 ADIP is run by the Ministry of Health.

False

Social Justice and Empowerment runs it.

4 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is for children with disabilities.