New Delhi, April 2026: India’s approach to digital accessibility has shifted from policy to enforcement. In the past twelve months, the country’s courts, regulators, and government bodies have each taken decisive action, creating binding compliance obligations for thousands of organizations across sectors.
India’s Accessibility Enforcement Framework Has Changed Significantly
In February 2025, the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) imposed penalties of Rs. 10,000 each on 155 establishments for failing to meet digital accessibility standards under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The list of penalized entities included several central government ministries.
When those organizations did not comply within the extended timelines, a second round of enforcement followed in July 2025. Penalties were raised to Rs. 50,000 for 96 repeat offenders. Notably, STQC, the government’s own quality audit authority, was among those penalized.
In April 2025, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the right to digital access forms part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. This ruling elevated digital accessibility from a statutory requirement to a constitutional one.
On July 31, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular requiring all regulated entities to comply with digital accessibility standards. The circular covers exchanges, brokers, depositories, mutual funds, and all other market intermediaries. The deadline for remediation of identified accessibility issues is July 31, 2026. Annual audit cycles are required thereafter.
The Legal and Standards Framework Organizations Must Navigate
The governing legislation is the RPwD Act, 2016. Sections 40, 42, and 46 of the Act require all establishments, public and private, to ensure equal access to persons with disabilities.
The technical standard underpinning compliance is IS 17802, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards. In 2023, IS 17802 was incorporated into the RPwD Rules via a formal amendment. It is now a legally enforceable standard, not a voluntary guideline.
Organizations are required to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the baseline. Audits must be conducted by professionals who hold certifications from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
How Pivotal Accessibility Supports Organizations With Digital Accessibility Compliance
Pivotal Accessibility is a New Delhi-based digital accessibility firm, founded in 2021. The company is formally empanelled by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, to conduct web accessibility audits.
DEPwD empanelment is a formal government recognition. It confirms that an organization meets the technical standards, methodology requirements, and expertise thresholds set by the government. This is to evaluate digital platforms for accessibility compliance. It is the credential that SEBI and the RPwD Rules specifically require organizations to look for when appointing auditors.
The company employs over 30 professionals, including accessibility specialists who hold IAAP certifications. Its services cover the full compliance lifecycle: accessibility auditing and testing, remediation, code-level recommendations, accessible web development, document accessibility for PDFs and Office formats, VPAT reporting, and staff training. In addition to its India operations, Pivotal Accessibility serves clients in the United States and other international markets.
Just in the last year, Pivotal Accessibility has worked with more than 100 clients across India and internationally. Clients include private sector organizations and large government bodies. Engagements have covered accessibility audits, platform remediation, and ongoing compliance support.
How the Current Accessibility Compliance Scenario Looks
In recent months, the company has seen an increase in organizations approaching it after having received notices for non-compliance. These organizations require structured support to address outstanding legal obligations and remediate identified issues within regulatory timelines.
Ajay Sohal, Founder of Pivotal Accessibility, commented on the shift in India’s regulatory environment:
“For most of our earlier years as a company, the majority of our work came from the United States. This was because enforcement under the Americans with Disabilities Act was already well established. Interest from India existed, but urgency was limited. What has changed in India over the past year is significant. The Supreme Court judgment, the CCPD enforcement actions, and the SEBI mandate together represent a level of institutional commitment to digital inclusion that very few countries outside the United States, and now parts of Europe following the European Accessibility Act, have demonstrated. This matters in real terms. According to the World Health Organization, 1.3 billion people globally live with some form of disability. For a very large number of them, inaccessible digital platforms are not a minor inconvenience. They represent a genuine barrier to participation in economic and civic life.”
The Compliance Window Requires Immediate Attention
Despite the regulatory activity, compliance rates remain low. According to available data, only six establishments had submitted accessibility audit reports by the final February 2025 CCPD deadline.
SEBI’s circular extends these obligations to thousands of regulated financial entities. The SEBI remediation deadline requires organizations to have identified and resolved accessibility issues across all investor-facing platforms.
Organizations that have not initiated an accessibility audit are operating with limited time to complete the required work before deadlines pass. Digital accessibility has become a regulated domain in India, with judicial, statutory, and regulatory backing. It now sits in the same compliance category as data protection, cybersecurity standards, and financial disclosure requirements.
About Pivotal Accessibility: Pivotal Accessibility is a digital accessibility company headquartered in New Delhi, India. The company is formally empanelled by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India. Founded in 2021, it provides accessibility auditing, remediation, development, VPAT reporting, and training services to clients in India and internationally. The company’s team of over 30 professionals includes accessibility specialists holding IAAP certifications.
Website: www.pivotalaccessibility.com