In a landmark move toward inclusivity, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has informed the Supreme Court of India that it has decided in principle to introduce screen reader software for visually impaired candidates appearing in its examinations.
The announcement came through an additional affidavit filed by the UPSC in response to a plea highlighting the lack of accessibility for persons with blindness and low vision in civil services and other recruitment examinations.
UPSC’s Commitment to Accessibility
According to the affidavit filed by the Joint Secretary (Examinations), the Commission has thoroughly reviewed the matter and has approved the use of screen-reading software for candidates with visual impairments in all major exams.
However, the UPSC clarified that it will roll out the new system only after ensuring the availability of proper infrastructure, secure testing environments, and successful pilot testing at various exam centres across the country.
“The Commission has decided to introduce the use of screen reader software to the visually impaired candidates… however, proper infrastructure is not yet available,” the affidavit stated.
Supreme Court’s Role and the PIL
The decision follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the organisation Mission Accessibility, which sought directions to UPSC to provide adequate facilities for visually impaired aspirants. The case was heard by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, who commended the step but also urged the Commission to act within a time-bound framework.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the new facility should be made available before the next examination cycle begins, ensuring equal opportunity for all aspirants.
When Will It Be Implemented?
In response to the court’s query, the UPSC’s counsel informed that the new system could be ready for rollout in the next year’s examination cycle, pending successful trials. The court also raised concerns about accessibility, observing that forcing visually impaired candidates to travel long distances to specific centres would be unfair, and urged the UPSC to implement the facility uniformly across India.
Challenges in Infrastructure
In its affidavit, the UPSC highlighted that it does not own permanent infrastructure for conducting examinations. The Commission relies on the infrastructure and manpower of state governments, district administrations, schools, and colleges for managing test centres.
Hence, ensuring a uniform, secure, and accessible environment for candidates with disabilities requires close coordination with multiple authorities.
A Step Toward Inclusive Governance
This initiative marks a significant stride in the UPSC’s ongoing effort to make India’s toughest examinations more inclusive, fair, and accessible. Once implemented, it will empower thousands of visually impaired aspirants to pursue careers in the civil services — a move hailed as a progressive leap toward equitable opportunity in governance.
