Today, On 16th February, The Supreme Court granted the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) one week to submit a compliance affidavit. The affidavit must detail the proposed plan, timeline, and methods for deploying screen-reader software for visually-impaired candidates in its examinations.
The Supreme Court granted the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) a week to submit a compliance affidavit that outlines the proposed plan, timeline, and methods for implementing screen-reader software for visually-impaired candidates taking its examinations.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta accepted the UPSC counsel’s request, which stated that while the Commission was completely complying with prior directives, it needed additional time to prepare the affidavit.
The case is set for further hearing on February 23.
This directive stems from the Court’s judgment on December 3, 2025, regarding a petition from Mission Accessibility, which sought changes to the timeline for scribe registration in the Civil Services Examination and approval for visually-impaired candidates to use laptops with screen-reader software along with accessible digital question papers.
In this judgment, the Court affirmed that the rights of persons with disabilities are not acts of charity but derive from the constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination.
The Court had mandated the UPSC to,
- Include a clear provision in every examination notification that allows eligible candidates to request a change of scribe up to at least seven days before the examination.
- Ensure that such requests are evaluated by a reasoned order within three working days.
- Submit a comprehensive compliance affidavit within two months, detailing the action plan, timeline, and modalities for deploying screen-reader software.
Furthermore, the affidavit was required to specify,
- Steps for testing, standardization, and validation of the screen-reader software.
- Infrastructure details at all examination centers or designated locations.
- The feasibility of making this facility available for all eligible candidates in the next examination cycle.
The Court also directed the UPSC to collaborate with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities in order to develop uniform guidelines and protocols for assistive technologies in examinations.
Acknowledging the UPSC’s assertion that the compliance process was in progress, the bench granted an additional week to file the affidavit, deferring the matter to February 23 for further consideration.
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