UPSC told the Supreme Court it will soon enable screen reader software for visually impaired candidates in its exams once infrastructure is ready. The move aims to make civil service exams more inclusive and accessible.
New Delhi: In an important step toward making government exams more inclusive, the Supreme Court of India was on Friday informed that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has decided in principle to introduce screen reader software for visually impaired candidates in all its examinations.
According to an additional affidavit filed by the UPSC before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, the Commission said that it has already reviewed the issue and plans to implement the use of screen readers once the necessary infrastructure and secure software testing are ready across all exam centres.
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The affidavit stated:
“I say that the commission has exhaustively reviewed the matter and it has in-principle decided to introduce the use of screen reader software to the visually impaired candidates for various examinations conducted by the commission. However, the proper infrastructure is not yet available.”
The case was heard on a petition filed by the organisation ‘Mission Accessibility’, represented by advocate Sanchita Ain, which raised concerns over the lack of proper opportunities for candidates with blindness or low vision in the UPSC civil services examinations.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner informed the bench about the affidavit and requested that the UPSC be asked to complete the process in a fixed timeframe.
The lawyer said that this facility should be ready before the next cycle of examinations begins, adding that the matter involves several practical concerns like accessible question papers, diagrams, and regional language compatibility of the software.
He argued that these issues should be discussed in consultation with stakeholders. However, the bench observed that it was for the UPSC to decide whether it wanted consultations, stating,
“It is for them to consult or not consult. They know how they are preparing their question papers and how they can put it to screen readers.”
The Court also said that the UPSC could hold consultations if it wished, and reserved its order in the matter.
When the bench asked the UPSC’s counsel how much time the process would take, the lawyer responded that the initiative was likely to be implemented in the next year’s examination cycle.
The Court then raised a crucial question — how could this facility be limited to only a few exam centres? The bench observed that if visually impaired candidates are made to travel long distances for exams,
“then it would be unfair.”
In its detailed affidavit, the UPSC explained that it does not have its own exam infrastructure across the country and is
“totally and wholly dependent on the infrastructure and manpower of the state governments, district authorities, schools and colleges which are entrusted to conduct the tests.”
To ensure the availability of this facility, the UPSC said it had written a letter dated July 7 to all coordinating supervisors — including district collectors, magistrates, and divisional commissioners — urging them to make the necessary arrangements as early as possible.
It also sent letters to the chief secretaries of all states requesting urgent action at the district level.
Between July 22 and July 25, senior UPSC officials conducted video conferences with these coordinating supervisors.
The affidavit stated:
“Issues discussed included the availability of infrastructure such as computers/ laptops with screen reader software, the number of visually impaired candidates at each centre, procurement of screen reader software, modalities for secure transmission of digital question papers and availability of at least one venue per city with the required facilities.”
Further, the UPSC said it had approached the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disability (NIEPVD), Dehradun, to explore the use of its computer labs and regional centres to conduct exams for visually impaired candidates using screen reader software.
A review meeting held on July 28 between UPSC and NIEPVD officials discussed the use of computers with screen readers and how both objective and subjective papers could be handled securely and fairly.
The affidavit also revealed that the UPSC had written to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), New Delhi, seeking to use NIEPVD and its nine regional centres as exam venues for candidates opting for the assistance of screen readers.
The DEPwD, in response, said it was willing to upgrade these centres to serve as dedicated examination centres for such candidates.
The affidavit quoted DEPwD’s response as:
“However, they have also mentioned that the software required, protocols for conducting the examinations, accessible formatting of question papers, sanitation of software and related aspects will remain the sole responsibility of the UPSC.”
It further added that the UPSC is actively exploring the suggestions made by DEPwD to ensure smooth and secure implementation of the facility.
The affidavit also clarified that, according to the Central Government, introducing screen reader software does not require any amendment to the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Rules, 2025.
This move marks a major step toward ensuring equal opportunity and accessibility for visually impaired candidates aspiring to join India’s civil services. The Supreme Court’s upcoming order is expected to set the tone for a more inclusive and technologically accessible examination system across the country.
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