Does website accessibility law apply to my business in India?

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (ss. 40, 42, 46) applies to: Government and private service providers.

What accessibility standard must a website meet in India?

Rules under the Act; GIGW for government sites.

How is website accessibility enforced in India?

Chief and State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities; courts.

What are the penalties for an inaccessible website in India?

Fines under the Act for contraventions; check the current text.

Website accessibility law

Website accessibility law in India

India's Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 requires service providers to provide services in line with accessibility rules. In Rajive Raturi v. Union of India (8 November 2024), the Supreme Court held that accessibility standards must be mandatory.

Moderate, rising exposure for private websites. The Supreme Court said in 2024 that accessibility rules must be binding, and the Act covers service providers.

Quick answers

Does website accessibility law apply to my business in India?: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (ss. 40, 42, 46) applies to: Government and private service providers.
What accessibility standard must a website meet in India?: Rules under the Act; GIGW for government sites.
How is website accessibility enforced in India?: Chief and State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities; courts.
What are the penalties for an inaccessible website in India?: Fines under the Act for contraventions; check the current text.

The laws

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

ss. 40, 42, 46

Who is covered: Government and private service providers.
Standard: Rules under the Act; GIGW for government sites.
Enforcement: Chief and State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities; courts.
What it can cost: Fines under the Act for contraventions; check the current text.
Key dates: Supreme Court judgment, 8 November 2024.
Impact on your website: Expect binding web accessibility rules for service providers.

What it means for your website

The government was directed to frame mandatory accessibility rules.

Key cases

2024
Rajive Raturi v. Union of India
W.P.(C) No. 243 of 2005
Accessibility standards under the RPwD Act must be mandatory, not just guidance.

How Jralo helps in India

Daily checks against WCAG 2.2 A and AA with axe-core. Automated testing finds many, not all, problems.
A dated, independently timestamped record of what was checked and fixed, so you can show what you did and when.
Website Mechanic fixes problems in your code and opens a pull request for you to review.

Start free

Good to know

Check India Code and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for new rules since the judgment.

Sources

General information, checked 9 October 2026. Not legal advice. Laws, guidance and enforcement change; speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation.