"OTT platforms urged to lead on accessibility for persons with disabilities"
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
Indian law expanding disability categories to 21 and mandating accessibility across sectors.
Same Language Captioning (SLC)
On-screen text in the same language as the audio, aiding both hearing-impaired viewers and literacy development.
India's legal framework for disability rights underwent a transformative shift with the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which replaced the older Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995. The RPwD Act expanded the categories of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, introduced the concept of reasonable accommodation, and placed a positive legal duty on both government and private entities to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination. Crucially, Section 42 of the Act specifically addresses accessibility in media and entertainment, directing that all audio-visual programmes be made accessible to persons with hearing and visual impairments through captions, sign language interpretation, and audio descriptions.
The constitutional underpinning for disability rights draws from Article 21 (right to life with dignity), Article 41 (DPSP directing the state to make effective provision for persons with disabilities), and the broader equality framework of Articles 14 and 15. India is also a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), ratified in 2007, which obligates the state to ensure equal access to information, communication, and cultural life — including digital entertainment.
The regulation of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms in India was formalised through the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which brought OTT publishers under the oversight of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). Separately, the MIB issued specific Guidelines for Accessibility of Content on OTT Platforms, which represent the first dedicated regulatory attempt to address disability access in the streaming ecosystem.
Accessibility in digital media refers to the suite of features that enable persons with sensory disabilities to consume audio-visual content on equal terms. The three primary tools are: Same Language Captions (SLC) or subtitles for the hearing impaired; Indian Sign Language (ISL) interpretation for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) community; and Audio Description (AD) — a narrated track describing visual action for the visually impaired. Globally, research demonstrates that these features benefit a far wider audience than just persons with disabilities: captions are routinely used by viewers watching content in a non-native language, in noisy environments, or while learning to read.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has adopted a 'born accessible' policy, mandating that all films submitted for certification must include accessibility features as a condition of certification. This represents a supply-side intervention — embedding accessibility at the point of content creation rather than retrofitting it later. …
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:
With reference to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, consider the following statements:
1.It expanded the number of recognised disability categories from 7 to 21.
2.Section 42 of the Act specifically addresses accessibility in audio-visual media and entertainment.
3.The Act was enacted to fulfil India's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which India ratified in 2007.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Guidelines for Accessibility of Content on OTT Platforms are being challenged in the Delhi High Court primarily on the ground that:
Assertion (A): The Central Board of Film Certification now requires accessibility features such as captions and audio descriptions as a condition of film certification in India.
Reason (R): The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 places a legal duty on all private entities to provide accessibility in all services without exception.
Which of the following is correct?
Which of the following best describes 'Same Language Captioning (SLC)' in the context of media accessibility?
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