Accessibility Compliance
Digital Accessibility Law in India: RPwD, IS 17802, GIGW, RBI & SEBI
Digital accessibility in India has moved from good practice to legal obligation. Between the RPwD Act, the now-statutory IS 17802 standard, GIGW for government platforms, and fresh accessibility mandates from RBI and SEBI, organizations face real, enforceable duties to make their websites and apps usable by persons with disabilities. This guide maps the landscape and how WCAG underpins it.
RPwD Act 2016 - the legal foundation
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (Section 46) mandates accessibility of services and information. It is the overarching legal basis for digital accessibility duties in India, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has taken enforcement action against non-compliant organizations.
IS 17802 - India's statutory accessibility standard
IS 17802 is India's national accessibility standard from the Bureau of Indian Standards. It became legally enforceable under the RPwD (Amendment) Rules, 2023 - shifting from voluntary guidance to a statutory requirement for ICT products and services. It is aligned with WCAG but adds India-specific criteria, including regional-language support.
GIGW 3.0 - government websites and apps
The Guidelines for Indian Government Websites and Apps (GIGW 3.0) are mandatory for government digital platforms. They set WCAG 2.1 AA as the minimum and add content, usability and language requirements. For government bodies and PSUs, compliance is cumulative with the RPwD Act and IS 17802.
RBI and SEBI accessibility mandates
Beyond disability law, financial-sector regulators now expect accessible digital services. RBI guidance covers banking channels (net-banking, mobile banking, portals), and SEBI has mandated digital accessibility for its regulated entities - brokers, AMCs, RTAs and investor platforms - covering onboarding, KYC and trading journeys.
How WCAG fits - and what to do
WCAG 2.2 (and 2.1) is the technical backbone that almost all of these obligations reference. Conforming to WCAG 2.2 Level AA, verified with real assistive-technology testing, is the most effective way to satisfy the technical core of Indian accessibility law.
- Audit your web and mobile products against WCAG 2.2 with real screen-reader testing
- Map findings to the specific obligations that apply to you (RPwD/IS 17802/GIGW/RBI/SEBI)
- Remediate at the source and verify with a re-test
- Maintain defensible documentation - a conformance statement or VPAT
Need help with this in practice?
A5 Cyber Nexus audits, remediates and certifies against these frameworks.
Frequently asked questions
Is digital accessibility legally mandatory in India?
Yes. The RPwD Act 2016 mandates accessibility, and IS 17802 became statutory under the 2023 Rules. GIGW is mandatory for government, and RBI & SEBI have added sector mandates. The CCPD can enforce non-compliance.
Does conforming to WCAG make me compliant in India?
WCAG 2.2 AA satisfies the technical core of most Indian accessibility obligations, but IS 17802 adds India-specific criteria (e.g. regional language) and GIGW adds usability/content rules. We map WCAG conformance to your exact obligations.
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