PUBLIC SECTOR & GOVERNANCE · GIGW & IS 17802
Digital Accessibility for Government
Support accessible public citizen portals, e-governance services, mobile apps and digital forms — aligned with IS 17802, GIGW 3.0 guidelines, the RPwD Act and WCAG standards, and the constitutional obligation established by the Supreme Court in April 2025.
Accessible Digital Government Is a Legal & Constitutional Obligation
Under Section 40 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, every service provider — including government departments — must follow accessibility standards. The Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW 3.0) issued by MeitY require all government websites to conform to IS 17802:2022 and WCAG. The Supreme Court (April 30, 2025) then held that digital access is part of the right to life under Article 21, making accessibility a constitutional obligation for public bodies.
Why Digital Accessibility Matters for Government
Citizens increasingly interact with government through websites, portals, mobile apps, e-forms and self-service kiosks — for documentation, welfare, tax, health and civic services. When those interfaces are inaccessible, persons with disabilities are excluded from services they are entitled to use independently.
Beyond the legal and constitutional obligation, accessible government services widen civic participation, improve service quality for all citizens, and reduce the risk of complaints and litigation against public bodies.
What Falls in Scope for Government Bodies
The GIGW 3.0 and IS 17802 frameworks apply across the full citizen-facing digital estate:
Websites & Portals
Department websites, citizen service portals, schemes and programme pages, and public dashboards.
Mobile Apps
Government mobile apps for services, alerts, payments and information must work with assistive technology.
Digital Documents & e-Forms
Application forms, PDFs, circulars, tenders and e-sign flows must be readable by screen readers.
Video & Multimedia Content
Official videos, webinars and announcements need captions, transcripts and audio descriptions.
Kiosks & Public Terminals
Self-service kiosks and citizen service centres need accessible interfaces, audio guidance and alternative input.
Procured Digital Services
Vendors and suppliers of government digital services must meet the same accessibility requirements — bake it into procurement.
Key Requirements for Government Digital Services
IS 17802:2022
The Bureau of Indian Standards ICT accessibility standard — the technical benchmark for government websites, apps and digital services in India.
GIGW 3.0
MeitY's Guidelines for Indian Government Websites — compliance criteria covering accessibility, usability, content and security for all government sites.
WCAG 2.1 & 2.2
Global W3C guidelines covering contrast, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility and cognitive accessibility.
Plain Language & Clarity
Simple, consistent language and clear navigation benefit all citizens — including people with cognitive and learning disabilities.
Assistive Technology Support
Screen reader compatibility, keyboard-only operation, voice navigation, adjustable text and high-contrast modes.
Certified Audits & STQC
Regular accessibility audits by certified professionals — including IAAP-certified assessors — with usability testing by persons with disabilities.
A Practical Compliance Roadmap for Government Bodies
GIGW conformance and constitutional compliance are best delivered in stages:
Phase 1Assess & Set Policy
Inventory all citizen-facing platforms, benchmark against GIGW 3.0 and IS 17802, and adopt an accessibility policy for your department or agency.
Phase 2Fix the Technical Foundation
Remediate websites, apps, forms and documents — semantic HTML, keyboard access, contrast, captions and accessible PDFs.
Phase 3Support Citizens with Disabilities
Provide assistive technology options, accessible helplines, and assisted digital channels for citizens who need support.
Phase 4Test & Validate
Test end-to-end citizen journeys with persons across disability types and engage certified accessibility auditors.
Phase 5Train, Procure & Sustain
Train content editors and developers, add accessibility clauses to vendor procurement, and keep a regular audit and monitoring schedule.
How A11yGo Helps Government Bodies
A11yGo supports the full accessibility improvement lifecycle for public sector organizations:
From a free assessment to remediation guidance and assistive technology for citizens, A11yGo helps public bodies turn a compliance obligation into a verifiable, defensible position.
Public Portal Assessment
Evaluate your government website, app or e-form journeys for accessibility barriers aligned with GIGW 3.0, IS 17802 and WCAG.
Get Free AssessmentGIGW 3.0 Guidelines
MeitY's Guidelines for Indian Government Websites — accessibility, usability, content and security requirements for all government sites.
Open GIGW Portal