In India, working for the government is as prestigious as it can get. It provides stability and job security to millions of citizens. That includes those with disabilities as well.
Not only are those with disabilities eligible for certain Indian government jobs, but they are protected by laws as well, specifically the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act of 2106.
Under this Act, a certain portion of vacancies within the government is reserved for eligible candidates with benchmark disabilities.
Not only that, but this law also prohibits against discrimination due to disabilities during the hiring process, ensuring that competing applicants will have no advantage or disadvantage due to another’s disabilities or lack thereof.
Reservation and Legal Provisions for PwDs
The RPwD Act of 2016 mandates that 4% of all government jobs in India are reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities.
This covers conditions such as visual or hearing impairment, mobility-related issues, autism, and others. Of course, this would also depend on the nature of the job being applied for.
Under the Act, reserved positions cover both central and state-level posts. Aside from this, other benefits include laxity when it comes to age requirements as well as application free exemptions and lower acceptable scores during recruitment exams.
This aims to entice more PwDs to work for the government where they are still able to contribute despite their handicaps without fear of being untreated fairly during the hiring process.
Central Government Job Opportunities
The central government reserves a very large number of posts for persons with disabilities. Chief among these are through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Positions available for PwDs in the central government include administrative or clerical roles, such as those involved in office-based work like document handling and data entry. Other roles also include accounting and auditing tasks.
Aside from the above, services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS), Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), and Controller General of Accounts (CGA) regularly recruit disabled citizens for various roles within their offices.
State Government and Local Body Jobs
Public Service Commissions, at the state level, also conduct recruitment exams for positions such as secretaries or roles in revenue, transport, and education-related departments.
These positions are well-suited for PwDs as these posts focus on supervisory, clerical, or technical work that does not require heavy physical labor.
Similarly, positions such as Junior Assistants, Typists, Data Entry Operators, Village Revenue Officers, admin and accounting staff, and library management staff are also available.
State-run universities, cooperative departments, and municipal corporations regularly hire persons with disabilities for these roles as the tasks required, for the most part, would not be hindered by impairments.
Other Sectors
Other public sectors where PwDs are encouraged to apply are banking and financial sectors, railways and postal departments, as well as education and research centres.
Several PSUs, municipal planning boards, and state electricity boards also regularly hire persons with disabilities.
These jobs include posts in administration, technical supervision, customer service, and other computer-based tasks.
PwDs may also apply for positions such as Probationary Officer, Specialist Officer, clerks, account management, ticketing, Postal or Sorting Assistants, Assistant Professors, and many more.
Public sectors usually provide facilities that promote inclusivity and accessibility depending on the impairment. This includes accessible workstations, assistive software, and flexible along with the standard benefits.
Listed below are some of the public offices that regularly conduct recruitment drives for PwDs:
- State Bank of India (SBI)
- Punjab National Bank (PNB)
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
- New India Assurance
- Indian Railways (through the Railway Recruitment Board)
- India Post
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- State education boards and universities (through UGC NET)
Choosing the Right Role Based on Ability
While the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 does ensure employment opportunities for PwDs, it is still important to have a balance between the requirements for the position as well as the nature of the disability.
Those with limited mobility can excel in desk work such as those focused on clerical, data entry, or IT-related work. On the other hand, assistive software can be used in sectors such as banking, teaching, or research.
Of course, in some areas like the armed forces, certain positions will require physical fitness. This can make certain PwDs ineligible for these positions. This, there are many other positions that persons with disabilities can contribute, and many offices are ensuring that they are able to get top talent despite certain limitations.
For those with strong analytical skills or technical knowledge related to a job requirement, many persons with disabilities can start promising careers in the Indian government for as long as they have the qualifications required, with their disabilities not being a hindrance to their employment chances.
Conclusion
Indian government jobs are reserved for persons with disabilities due to the RPwD Act. This ensures a spot for persons with disabilities in very important posts with in the public sector.
While some job posts require able-bodied applicants, there are lots of vacancies for those with a wide range of disabilities, with many of them opening doors to lucrative and exciting careers.
The RPwD Act of 2016 ensures fair hiring processes as well as supportive workplace policies to ensure a good working environment for persons with disabilities.
Of course, applicants with disabilities should also make sure that they have the skills necessary to assume these posts. They should also keep themselves updated for any vacancies as many public organisations regularly run recruitment for this particular demographic.
The number of persons with disabilities in the Indian government shows that disabilities are not an obstacle that should stop people from having a rewarding career in the public sector. It also shows the government’s drive to ensure fair employment practices for qualified personnel regardless of disability.