Many businesses in India overlook digital accessibility, even though it is legally required. But that is changing. The Indian government is now taking action, holding companies accountable for inaccessible websites and apps.
Recently, the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) took suo-motu action against several companies, including Reliance Jio, Airtel, Dunzo, Zerodha, and The Indian Express, for failing to meet accessibility standards.
As part of this action, these companies were ordered to audit their digital platforms, identify accessibility issues, and submit an audit report within a given deadline. Non-compliant businesses risk fines under the RPwD Act, 2016.
With accessibility now under strict enforcement, businesses must act fast to avoid legal trouble. This article covers the digital accessibility laws in India, the penalties for non-compliance, and the steps businesses must take to stay compliant.
Digital accessibility is a legal requirement in India under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Section 42 of the Act mandates that businesses ensure their digital content and technology are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Here’s what Section 42 states in simple terms:
This means that businesses, media platforms, and technology providers must ensure their websites, apps, and digital products are fully accessible. Failure to comply with these standards can lead to legal penalties, fines, and reputational damage.
The biggest penalty is reputational damage. Your business could be seen as one that ignores the needs of people with disabilities, which can hurt trust and damage your reputation. Beyond that, non-compliance comes with financial consequences.
Under Section 89 of the RPwD Act, 2016:
The Indian government takes a fair approach to accessibility enforcement. If someone reports your website or app as inaccessible, the government will give you time to fix the issues before imposing any penalties.
The Rapido accessibility case highlights how the Indian government handles such issues. When a complaint was filed against Rapido for being inaccessible to visually impaired users, the court gave the company three months to comply without imposing any penalties.
But this doesn’t mean you should wait for a lawsuit to make your digital platforms accessible. Accessibility is a social responsibility, and ensuring everyone can use your website or app benefits both your business and the people who rely on it.
To make your digital platforms accessible and compliant with the RPwD Act, 2016, you must follow the IS 17802 directive – India’s official standard for web accessibility. It provides technical details on making websites and apps accessible.
This directive references WCAG 2.1 as the standard for making your digital platforms accessible. So if you follow the POUR principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust), your website and app will be compliant.
Here are the steps to make your website and app compliant:
Audit your website and app by evaluating them against WCAG 2.1 standards to identify accessibility barriers. You can evaluate your website and app using a combination of automated testing and manual review.
Address all issues found during the audit to ensure your platform follows POUR principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust) and meets compliance requirements under the RPwD Act, 2016.
Accessibility isn’t a one-time fix. Websites and apps evolve, and new issues can arise. Regular monitoring and audits help maintain compliance with WCAG 2.1, ensuring ongoing accessibility and avoiding legal risks under the RPwD Act, 2016.
The time to act is now – with stricter enforcement and rising penalties, businesses can’t afford to ignore accessibility any longer. Not sure where to start? WebYes is here to make your compliance journey smooth and hassle-free.
WebYes is an automated auditing tool that checks your website against the WCAG 2.1 standard. It identifies accessibility issues, highlights what needs fixing, and flags areas that require manual review for full compliance.
Beyond one-time audits, WebYes also helps with continuous monitoring, ensuring your website remains accessible as it evolves. Stay compliant, avoid legal risks, and create a better experience for all users with WebYes.
Article by
Melwyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has been writing professionally for over 4 years. He has a strong background in SEO and is certified in web accessibility from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). When he's not writing about website optimisation, you can find him enjoying a game of FIFA or exploring the open world of GTA.
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