"Census 2027 disability question fails to align with RPWD Act 2016"
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
Indian law recognising 21 disability categories, mandating reservation and welfare entitlements.
Unique Disability ID (UDID)
National digital database of certified persons with disabilities, administered by DEPwD.
India's decennial population count is governed by the Census Act, 1948, which empowers the Registrar General of India (RGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, to collect and publish demographic data. The Census has been conducted every ten years since 1881. The 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Census 2027 the first enumeration in approximately 15 years. This gap has created significant data deficits across health, education, housing, and welfare delivery.
The legal framework for disability rights in India has evolved substantially. The Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 originally recognised seven categories of disability. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, enacted to align with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India ratified in 2007, expanded this to 21 recognised conditions. These include autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, specific learning disabilities, thalassemia, haemophilia, sickle cell disease, and dwarfism. Each condition confers entitlement to certification, reservation in education and employment, and welfare benefits. The Act also mandates the Unique Disability ID (UDID) system to create a national database of persons with disabilities.
The Census disability question has historically undercounted persons with disabilities. The 2011 Census recorded approximately 2.68 crore persons with disabilities, representing about 2.21% of the population. This figure is widely considered a significant undercount. The National Sample Survey (NSS) 2018 estimated the disabled population at around 2.2%, while the World Health Organization estimates that roughly 15% of any population lives with some form of disability. The gap between Census figures and WHO benchmarks points to structural flaws in how the question is designed and administered.
The RPWD Act, 2016 created a legal architecture of entitlements tied directly to recognised conditions. …
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:
Consider the following statements regarding 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam':
1.These provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha.
2.After becoming an Act, this will be in force for 15 years.
3.It has provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Though the Human Rights Commissions have contributed immensely to the protection of human rights in India, yet they have failed to assert themselves against the mighty and powerful. Analyzing their structural and practical limitations, suggest remedial measures.
Consider the following statements regarding the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016:
1.It expanded the number of recognised disability categories from 7 to 21.
2.It mandates a minimum 4% reservation in government jobs for persons with disabilities.
3.It was enacted to align Indian law with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which India ratified in 2007.
4.The Unique Disability ID (UDID) system is administered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
How many of the above statements are correct?
With reference to Census 2027's disability enumeration, consider the following pairs:
Condition listed in Census 2027 Question 13(b) — Status under RPWD Act, 2016
1.Blood disorder — Aggregates thalassemia, haemophilia, and sickle cell disease as separate recognised conditions
2.Acid attack — Listed as a standalone category in Census 2027, but situated within locomotor disability under the RPWD Act
3.Intellectual disability — Has a separate entry in Census 2027, and autism spectrum disorder is also separately listed
4.Mobility — Corresponds exactly to locomotor disability as defined under the RPWD Act
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Which of the following statements regarding the Unique Disability ID (UDID) system is/are correct?
1.It covers approximately half the disabled population in India.
2.It can supply district-level absolute counts of persons with disabilities, making it a viable substitute for Census enumeration.
3.It is administered by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Consider the following statements about the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign):
1.It focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across built infrastructure, transport systems, and information and communication technology.
2.It is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3.It was launched as a nationwide campaign to create a barrier-free and conducive environment for Persons with Disabilities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Assertion (A): The Census 2027 disability question, by listing only nine categories, will undercount persons with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, thalassemia, and specific learning disabilities.
Reason (R): The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognises 21 disability categories, each conferring entitlement to certification, reservation, and welfare benefits, but conditions absent from the Census do not exist for purposes of budgetary allocation.
Want the full note, Prelims Facts & MCQ answers?
Create a free account — takes less than a minute.
Create free account