Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part F (2025)

The landscape of disability rights in India underwent a transformative shift with the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016. This legislation replaced the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Act of 1995, marking a crucial evolution away from the outdated charity or medical/welfare model of disability towards a contemporary rights-based, biopsychosocial framework. This paradigm shift was driven primarily by India's commitment as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The fundamental objective of the RPWD Act is profound: it seeks to uphold the dignity of every Person with Disability (PwD) and explicitly prevent any form of discrimination. Furthermore, it aims to facilitate the full acceptance, participation, and inclusion of PwDs in society, ensuring they enjoy the right to equality, dignity, and respect for their integrity equally with all others. This legal mandate moves beyond mere provision of aid; it actively seeks to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure substantive equality in the workplace and beyond.