In a landmark step towards inclusive public recruitment, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on October 31 informed the Supreme Court that it has “in principle” decided to introduce screen reader software for visually impaired candidates in its examinations, including the Civil Services Examination (CSE).

The move follows a petition by Mission Accessibility, an organisation advocating for equitable access to competitive exams. The plea, filed through advocate Sanchita Ain, argued that candidates with blindness or low vision face systemic barriers in the absence of appropriate digital tools.

According to an additional affidavit filed by the UPSC’s examination branch, the commission has “exhaustively reviewed” the issue and agreed to deploy screen readers once the feasibility, infrastructure, and software security are verified across examination centres. However, it acknowledged that the necessary facilities are not yet fully available.

The case was heard by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which reserved its order after hearing submissions from both sides.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel urged the court to direct the UPSC to implement the software in a time-bound manner, ensuring the facility is ready before the next examination cycle. The counsel also called for consultations on technical aspects — such as accessible question papers, diagrams, and compatibility with regional languages.

The bench observed that while consultations were the UPSC’s prerogative, it must ensure that visually impaired candidates are not forced to travel long distances to access enabled centres, calling such a situation “unfair.”

In its affidavit, the UPSC clarified that it relies heavily on the infrastructure and manpower of state governments, district authorities, and educational institutions to conduct exams nationwide. To expedite the process, the commission said it has already requested district collectors, magistrates, and state chief secretaries to make the necessary arrangements through communications issued in July.

Between July 22 and 25, senior UPSC officials held video conferences with local supervisors to discuss logistics, including availability of computers with screen reader software, procurement, and secure digital question paper transmission.

The UPSC has also sought collaboration with the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in Dehradun and its regional centres to host such examinations. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has expressed willingness to upgrade these facilities into dedicated exam centres, though it clarified that software selection, formatting, and security protocols will remain the UPSC’s responsibility.

The commission said it continues to explore these suggestions actively. Notably, the Centre earlier informed the court that introducing screen readers does not require amending the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Rules, 2025, clearing a key procedural hurdle.

If implemented, the initiative could mark a transformative leap in accessibility for India’s most prestigious competitive examinations — opening long-overdue doors of opportunity for visually impaired aspirants nationwide.