Assistive Devices — Amendments

Amendment	Year	Description	Impact
N/A (Legislative Act)	2016	The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, replaced the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. This was a significant legislative overhaul rather than an amendment to a specific article, bringing Indian law in conformity with the UNCRPD.	The RPWD Act 2016 expanded the categories of disabilities from 7 to 21, increased reservation in government jobs, and explicitly mandated the provision of assistive devices and technologies as a right, moving away from a welfare-centric approach to a rights-based framework. It strengthened legal provisions for accessibility, non-discrimination, and rehabilitation, directly impacting the policy and implementation of assistive device distribution.