Previous Year Question
India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law?
Free schooling till the age of 18 years in government-run schools.
Preferential allotment of land for setting up business.
Ramps in public buildings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
All of these
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The question was based on the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, which was in force at that time.
Free education up to 18 years—Correct
Section 26 required appropriate governments and local authorities to ensure that every child with a disability had access to free education in an appropriate environment until the age of 18 years.
Preferential allotment of land for business—Correct
Section 43 provided for schemes giving preferential allotment of land at concessional rates to persons with disabilities.
The specified purposes included housing, setting up businesses, special schools, research centres and factories established by entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Ramps in public buildings—Correct
Section 46(d) required ramps to be provided in public buildings for wheelchair users.
Present legal position
The 1995 Act was replaced by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The 2016 Act increased the number of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21.
Section 31 gives every child with benchmark disability aged 6–18 the right to free education in a neighbourhood school or a special school of their choice.
Section 37 provides for concessional allotment of land for specified purposes, including business or enterprise.
Sections 40–46 establish accessibility requirements covering the physical environment, transport, information and communication, public buildings and services.
Conclusion: All three benefits were provided under the law applicable when the question was asked.