Q. Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct?
1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1 only

Answer : B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is not correct: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 was passed in 2016, not 2018. However, the rest of the statement regarding reservation in education and employment, accessibility, and non-discrimination is correct.

Key Features of RPwD Act, 2016

  • Reservation in government jobs increased from 3% to 4%.
  • Reservation in higher education increased to 5%.
  • Expanded recognized disabilities from 7 to 21 categories.
  • Emphasizes accessibility and equality.

Statement 2 is correct: Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in 2015.

Focus Areas

  • Built environment accessibility
  • Transportation accessibility
  • Information and communication technology accessibility

The objective is to create a barrier-free environment for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Statement 3 is not correct: The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, not the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Role of NDFDC

  • Provides concessional loans to PwDs.
  • Promotes self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Authentic Government Sources

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

RPwD Act Official PDF

Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

Accessible India Campaign – DEPwD

National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation

NDFDC Official Website

Important Links