The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is a disability law passed by the Parliament of India to fulfill its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by India in 2007. The Act replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 was introduced into the Parliament on 7 February 2014 and passed by the Lok Sabha on 14 December 2016. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 16 December 2016 and received the President's assent on 27 December 2016.^[1] The Act become operational on 15 june 2017. The Central Government rules 2017 have been notified under Section 100 of the Act and have come into force with effect from 15 June 2017.^[2]

Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister was the first one to be booked under this new legislation^[3] when disability activist Satendra Singh (doctor) filed case against him on publicly humiliating a disabled employee.^[4] The addition of thalassemia as a new disability under this new law allowed a Chhattisgarh girl with this disorder to get medical admission after Supreme Court's intervention.^[5]

Guidelines for Indian Government Websites

Logo of Guidelines for Indian Government Websites

The Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) are a set of guidelines developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.^[6] They are based on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines,^[7] International Standards including ISO 23026, and the Information Technology Act of India.^[8][9]

The GIGW applies to websites and mobile apps. This section contains topics from the Policies on a website to site content type, Design and development, Web Hosting, promotion and administration. It's also got an exclusive Mobile app policy area known as GuDApps.^[10] Guidelines are divided into three categories: mandatory, advisory and voluntary (for agencies to adhere to). It also provides an easily accessible checklist/compliance matrix to authenticate compliance with these guidelines.^[10]

The National Informatics Centre laid down the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) in February 2009.^[6][11][12] These rules and policies are the framework which encompasses digital asset development, including conceptualization through to governance and management. The department made the GIGW guidelines part of the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.^[6][11]

The first version of Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW 1.0) was developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in January, 2009 and included in the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedures by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India.

GIGW 2.0, the second version of GIGW, was established in 2019 after consultations with industry, society, and government organizations.^[6][9] GIGW 2.0 considered international standards and also introduced guidance on mobile apps. GIGW 3.0 represents the third iteration of these guidelines.^[13] GIGW 3.0 was developed in collaboration with the STQC Directorate and CERT-In for a complete approach to website and app quality, accessibility, and security.^[9]

GIGW 3.0 provides a framework for government organizations to improve mobile app accessibility and usability. This includes leveraging public digital infrastructure, such as API integration with various services like social media, DigiLocker, India Portal, open data sharing, single sign-on, Aadhaar-based identity, AI-based language translation, MyGov citizen engagement, and seamless data access across government web solutions.^[14]

GIGW 3.0 enables integration with other platforms, such as social media platforms and India Portal, DigiLocker, and Aadhaar-based identity.^[10] This integration facilitates the efficient flow of content and data between different online government initiatives.

GIGW 3.0 also adopted Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. Including these guidelines is necessary for users with cognitive or learning disabilities, low vision, and mobile device disabilities. This adoption also ensures conformity with Level AA of WCAG 2.1, adding 17 new success criteria.^[15]

With GIGW 3.0, all the aspects of quality, usability, and security related to government websites, web applications, web portals and mobile apps, along with guidance and advisories, are to be considered while implementing GIGW 3.0.^[9] With the incorporation of a chapter on cybersecurity developed by CERT-In, GIGW 3.0 guidelines ensure that each government digital asset is in accord with Standards.^[6] Protection against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security threats are included in this chapter. It covers everything from Design and coding to testing and deployment regarding security concerns, emphasizing preventing phishing, cybercrimes, malfunctioning, and cyberattacks.^[13]

The third version of GIGW specifies UX/UI guidelines for government websites and mobile applications. To this end, some aspects need to be implemented, such as instantaneous UX with AI-powered page loading and customized analytics according to user journeys and profiles.^[16]

This component provides clear and specific requirements and checkpoints for government organizations and developers to follow. It eliminates ambiguity in understanding what needs to be achieved for compliance.^[17]

GIGW 3.0 aims to enhance the UI and UX of websites and apps. It includes implementing a user-centric IA. The centralized monitoring dashboard identifies and addresses content issues.^[18]

GIGW 3.0 stipulates policies, processes, and plans to maintain quality, accessibility, and security throughout the website's lifecycle. Government organizations should obtain a "safe to host" certificate from CERT-In/STQC or their auditors to ensure compliance with cybersecurity regulations. Furthermore, GIGW 3.0 highlights the necessity of following guidance and advisories issued by CERT-In for updates.^[18]

In 2018, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released the "Guidelines for the Development of eGovernance Applications" (GuDApps) by NIC.^[15][19]

GuDApps is an integral set of guidelines under the GIGW3.0 program primarily for the User Experience (UX) of Government mobile applications. GuDApps focuses on user-centred design principles and incorporates standard practices for intuitive & accessibility in Mobile App design.

These recommendations are primarily intended to be applied to developers/designers designing application systems within Government. These guidelines encompass different facets of developing an eGovernance solution, such as data quality requirements, user identity verification, electronic forms, document management, report layouts, reporting structures and application frameworks.^[15][20]

Both sets of guidelines share a common overarching goal: to ensure applications and websites created for the Indian Government meet the highest quality.^[21][19] But these best practices are not applicable simultaneously; they are targeted at different development stages for different use cases.^[21]

The concept behind this plan is based on set international practices such as ISO 23026, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) of the W3C, which assures that GuDApps meet with global measures in quality and GuDApps were based on the principles behind the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the Information Technology Act in India, which advocate the inclusion of all citizens (including those with disabilities).^[21]

With the incorporation of a chapter on cybersecurity developed by CERT-In, GIGW 3.0 guidelines ensure that each government digital asset is in accord with Standards.^[6][18] Protection against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security threats are included in this chapter. It covers everything from design and coding to testing and deployment regarding security concerns, emphasizing preventing phishing, cybercrimes, malfunctioning, and cyberattacks.^[18]

Government organizations must assess their digital assets, identify areas for improvement, and create time-bound plans for GIGW 3.0 implementation, using Certified Quality Website (CQW)^[22] certification from the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate as a conformity mark.

• "India Digital Accessibility Laws: An Overview". Bureau of Internet Accessibility. BOIA. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• Initiative (WAI), W3C Web Accessibility (9 November 2023). "India". Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• "GIGW 3.0: Version 3 of Guidelines for Indian Government Websites seeks to enhance usability of mobile apps - ET Government". ETGovernment.com. The Economic Times. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• Rogers, Mark (5 February 2021). "Government accessibility standards and WCAG 2". Powermapper. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• "Global Law and Policy". Law Office of Lainey Feingold.
• "International Web Accessibility Laws and Policies". whoisaccessible.com. 27 February 2020.
• "Web Accessibility Standards Across the World (Sorted by Country)". commonlook.com. Commionlook. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• Pandey, Shashank (4 November 2022). "Few Indian websites are technically accessible to disabled people – despite the law requiring this". Scroll.in. Scroll.in. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• "Employees don't think about security, they come and go: Government's strict diktat on ensuring website security". Moneycontrol. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• "Law Minister Kiren Rijiju launches new 'divyang-friendly' website of Department of Justice". ThePrint. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
• "Why Does Mainstream Indian Discourse On Digital Inclusion Leave Out Disability?". The Wire. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

• Text of legislation
• Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW)