Disability quota in UPSC exams

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exams in India have provisions for candidates with disabilities to ensure they have equal opportunities to compete. Here’s a detailed look at the disability quota and related provisions in the UPSC exams:

Reservation Quota

1. Percentage of Reservation: As per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, 4% of the total vacancies in government jobs and educational institutions are reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities.
2. Categories of Disabilities: The reservation is provided for the following categories of disabilities:
   • Blindness and low vision
   • Deaf and hard of hearing
   • Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy
   • Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness
   • Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness

Eligibility Criteria

1. Benchmark Disabilities: Candidates with at least 40% disability are eligible to apply under the disability quota.
2. Medical Examination: Candidates must undergo a medical examination to confirm the extent of their disability. This examination is conducted by a designated medical board.

Allocation of Services

1. Physical and Medical Standards: While candidates with disabilities can compete for all services, certain services may have specific physical and medical standards. Candidates need to meet these standards to be eligible for allocation to those services.
2. Preference for Posts: Candidates are given the option to specify their preference for services/posts at the time of applying, and efforts are made to accommodate these preferences based on their rank and the availability of vacancies under the disability quota.

The physical standards required for UPSC Civil Services vary for each position. Here is a compiled list detailing the specific physical requirements for each service.

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise, Grade A)- Locomotor Disability, Hearing Impaired
• Indian P&T Accounts & Finance Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Audit & Accounts Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Defence Accounts Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability
• Indian Revenue Service (IT), Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Ordnance – Locomotor Disability
• Factories Service, Grade A- Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Postal Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Civil Accounts Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Railway Accounts Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Railway Personnel Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Railway Traffic Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability
• Indian Defence Estates Services, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Information Service, Grade A- Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Trade Service, Grade A (Grade III)– Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Indian Corporate Law Service– Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Grade B (Section Officer Grade)– Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
• Civil Service, Grade B– Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired
• Pondicherry Civil Service, Grade B– Locomotor Disability, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impaired

Exam Provisions

1. Extra Time: Candidates with disabilities are given additional time to write their exams. Generally, they are provided 20 minutes per hour of the exam duration.
2. Scribes: Candidates with visual impairment or cerebral palsy or those with specific learning disabilities can avail the facility of a scribe/reader. The scribe is provided by the exam conducting authority, and candidates can also arrange their own scribes under certain conditions.
3. Accessible Exam Centers: Efforts are made to ensure that exam centers are accessible to candidates with disabilities. This includes provisions like ramps, accessible restrooms, and other necessary facilities.
4. Assistive Devices: Candidates are allowed to use assistive devices like magnifying glasses, screen readers, etc., as per their needs.

Application Process

1. Declaration: Candidates need to declare their disability status while filling out the application form.
2. Documentation: They must submit relevant medical certificates issued by a recognized authority to support their claim for reservation and special provisions.

UPSC toppers that defy disability to achieve their dreams

• Delhi’s Ira Singhal became the first differently-abled woman to top the civil services examination in 2014. She suffers from 62 per cent locomotor disability.
• Ayushi, who secured UPSC all-India rank 48 in 2021, was completely blind. A top performer throughout her school and college years. Before achieving success in the UPSC exams, she secured the top position in the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board. Presently, Ayushi excels as a history teacher.
• Suraj Tiwari from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh lost both his legs, his right arm, and two fingers of his left hand in a tragic train accident. He cleared the UPSC by securing the rank 917 in his first attempt in 2022.
• Sarika A K, suffering from cerebral palsy, secured rank 922 in her second attempt at the UPSC 2023 examination.

The provisions for candidates with disabilities in the UPSC exams are designed to ensure that they have an equal playing field and can compete effectively. These measures reflect the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity for all citizens.

Question: What percentage of total vacancies in government jobs and educational institutions is reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016?

A. 2%
B. 3%
C. 4%
D. 5%

Answer: C. 4%

Explanation: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, mandates a 4% reservation of total vacancies for persons with benchmark disabilities.

Question: Which of the following categories is NOT included under the disability quota for UPSC exams?

A. Blindness and low vision
B. Locomotor disability
C. Chronic heart disease
D. Autism spectrum disorder

Answer: C. Chronic heart disease

Explanation: The categories under the disability quota include blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, mental illness, and multiple disabilities. Chronic heart disease is not listed as a category for reservation.

Question: How much extra time is generally provided to candidates with disabilities in UPSC exams?

A. 10 minutes per hour
B. 15 minutes per hour
C. 20 minutes per hour
D. 30 minutes per hour

Answer: C. 20 minutes per hour

Explanation: Candidates with disabilities are typically given an additional 20 minutes per hour of exam duration to ensure they have enough time to complete the exam.

Question: What is the minimum percentage of disability required for a candidate to be eligible under the disability quota in UPSC exams?

A. 30%
B. 40%
C. 50%
D. 60%

Answer: B. 40%

Explanation: Candidates must have a minimum of 40% disability to be eligible to apply under the disability quota.

Question: Candidates with which of the following conditions are eligible to use a scribe in UPSC exams?

A. Visual impairment
B. Cerebral palsy
C. Specific learning disabilities
D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

Explanation: Candidates with visual impairment, cerebral palsy, and specific learning disabilities are eligible to use a scribe during UPSC exams.

Question: Which act governs the reservation and provisions for persons with disabilities in the UPSC exams?

A. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995
B. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
C. Disability Rights Act, 2000
D. Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 2000

Answer: B. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

Explanation: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, governs the reservation and provisions for persons with disabilities, including in UPSC exams.

Question: Which of the following is NOT a provision for candidates with disabilities in UPSC exams?

A. Extra time to complete the exam
B. Provision of scribes
C. Separate question papers
D. Accessible exam centers

Answer: C. Separate question papers

Explanation: Candidates with disabilities are provided extra time, scribes, and accessible exam centers, but there is no provision for separate question papers.