IndiaRights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, Rule 15(1)(p), Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for the Banking Sector
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, rule 15(1)(p)
In force since .
An accessibility requirements rule binding public and private bodies.
- Enforcement body
- The respective Ministries and Departments, through the concerned domain regulators
- Instrument type
- a regulation made under an act
As of .
What it requires
- If you are a bank, design your website and apps so that they are accessible by all people including visually impaired people (Banking Sector standards, para 2.1).
- If you are a bank, have information and communication technology related changes, including to ATMs, websites and mobile applications, comply with IS 17802, the Bureau of Indian Standards standard for accessibility of information and communication technology products and services; the standards word this as 'should comply' (para 2.1).
- If you are a bank, follow specific provisions under IS 17802 when authoring digital documents for customers and employees with disabilities, and provide e-circulars, other electronic documents and bank e-statements in accessible formats (paras 2.3(i) and (ii)).
These lines are LexLint's reading of the law's text, as of .
If you get it wrong
Penalty structure
Section 89 sets a fine that may extend to ten thousand rupees for a first contravention, and for any subsequent contravention a fine of not less than fifty thousand rupees that may extend to five lakh rupees; the cap shown is the maximum for a subsequent contravention. Section 89 applies to a contravention of the Act or of a rule made under it.
- Rule
- Fixed only
- As of
- Currency
- INR
- Fixed cap
- 500,000
What this law does
Rule 15(1) provides that every establishment shall comply with the standards it lists relating to physical environment, transport and information and communication technology. Section 2(i) of the Act provides that establishment includes a Government establishment and private establishment.
Clause (p) of rule 15(1), inserted by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Rules, 2024, adds the accessibility standards and guidelines for the banking sector specified in a notification of the Department of Financial Services dated . The banking standards say that information and communication technology related changes, including to ATMs, websites and mobile applications, should comply with IS 17802.
Banks are to follow specific provisions under IS 17802 for authoring digital documents for customers and employees with disabilities. Banks are to provide bank e-statements in accessible PDF format or in alternative accessible formats to customers with disabilities. The amending rules are made by a notification dated . The amending rules come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The Gazette in which the amending rules appear is dated Tuesday, .
When LexLint raises it
When your app profile says your app ships a consumer interface, ships a mobile app or provides financial services.