Educational Reservations — Definition

Definition

Educational reservation for persons with disabilities provides a protected admission route for the beneficiary category and institutions specified by law. Under section 32 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, government and government-aided higher educational institutions must reserve not less than five per cent of seats for persons with benchmark disabilities.

Reservation is distinct from accessibility and reasonable accommodation, which address participation barriers. A reserved seat cannot by itself make a classroom, examination or learning resource usable.

The framework must therefore be read as support for both entry and meaningful educational participation.