Centre proposes safety standards, insurance cover, 'right to repair' for assistive devices
New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) The Centre has proposed a regulatory framework for wheelchairs, hearing aids, and other assistive products for persons with disabilities, which includes safety and quality standards, insurance coverage, repair and replacement rights, and a national grievance mechanism.
These proposals are included in the draft Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Rules, 2026, issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The government has invited objections and suggestions before finalising the rules.
The draft follows the Supreme Court judgment in Rajive Raturi vs union of India and others, which directed the union government to establish clear, uniform, and non-negotiable accessibility rules across sectors. The proposed framework classifies assistive products into three categories: essential, specialised, and emerging. Essential products include hearing aids, mobility aids, screen readers, spectacles, and wheelchairs.
Specialised products cover advanced devices such as cochlear implants, prosthetics, and augmentative and alternative communication devices. Emerging assistive products refer to technologies such as AI-enabled communication devices, robotics, and brain-computer interface systems. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), or another designated authority, would prescribe standards for essential and specialised assistive products.
The draft emphasises the need to address devices linked to accidents or mishaps caused by a lack of standardisation. Only products that meet prescribed standards would be eligible for the standard mark. The BIS or another designated authority would establish the process by which manufacturers obtain permission to use the mark. A key provision addresses wheelchair safety. The draft requires all standard manual and motorised wheelchairs, as well as wheeled mobility devices, to be equipped with transit-ready tie-down securement brackets. Manufacturers of powered wheelchairs and other mobility devices would be legally required to provide a "mobility aid passport" with each product.
This document would include information such as dimensions, weight, battery type, and dismantling instructions. Government procurement of assistive products, including devices, software, and integrated systems, would follow a transparent tendering process. Essential products could be sourced from self-certified entities, while specialised products would require certified manufacturers licensed by the BIS or another designated authority. The draft also proposes the creation of an online Assistive Products Portal for applications, certification, procurement, distribution tracking and grievance monitoring.
In coordination with the Consumer Affairs Ministry's Right to Repair portal, the proposed platform would extend the right to repair assistive products. The Centre and state governments would also be required to frame schemes to provide financial support to eligible users for procuring assistive products. Such schemes would include provisions for subsidies, reimbursement and insurance coverage.
The draft proposes that insurance policies and government schemes cover the initial cost, replacement, and repair of assistive products, as well as reimbursement when users pay directly. The Consumer Affairs Ministry's Right to Repair scheme would be extended to essential and specialised assistive products. In disasters or emergencies, national and state disaster management authorities would be required to ensure the immediate replacement or provision of essential assistive technology to affected users as part of relief and rehabilitation efforts. The proposed rules include a national toll-free helpline for user feedback and complaints, with a mandatory 30-day resolution timeline.
The helpline, grievance-redressal systems, and public awareness campaigns would be multimodal, offering voice, text-based platforms, and Indian Sign Language interpretation. The Centre has also proposed a national database for accidents involving assistive products. If an assistive device malfunctions and causes an injury or accident, the incident would be investigated and the findings recorded.
The database would inform standard-setting for assistive products and support evidence-based decisions on prohibiting non-standard products. The notification states that objections and suggestions received within the 30 days will be considered by the Central government before finalising the draft rules.
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