The Indian government has postponed the enforcement of its newly revised guidelines for conducting competitive examinations for persons with disabilities (PwDs) until December 31, 2025, due to inadequate preparedness among examining bodies and to safeguard candidates' interests.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) issued an office memorandum stating that all public examinations notified up to the end of 2025 will proceed under the previous framework, allowing for a smoother transition.

The deferment addresses concerns over the rapid introduction of technology-driven changes, such as supervised scribe pools and phasing out the "own scribe" system, which was flagged for potential malpractices like collusion.

Under the original guidelines, notified last month under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, agencies like UPSC, SSC, and the National Testing Agency were directed to establish vetted scribe systems. However, to avoid disruptions, candidates opting for assistive technologies will be accommodated where feasible during this interim period.

DEPwD plans to conduct extensive consultations with examining bodies, the disability community, and other stakeholders to refine the guidelines. This move ensures fairness, gives organizations time to prepare, and protects candidates from immediate changes that could affect their opportunities. All relevant ministries and agencies have been instructed to comply with the extended timeline.

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