Govt Tightens Rules on Scribes for PwD Candidates in Competitive Exams
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Sept: In a sweeping reform aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, the Central government has overhauled the rules governing the use of scribes for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in competitive examinations.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued revised guidelines mandating all examining bodies to create vetted pools of scribes within two years, phasing out the widely used “own scribe” system that has been repeatedly flagged for malpractice. The new framework will apply to all competitive public examinations linked to jobs, admissions in professional and technical courses, and written tests.
The move aligns with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Supreme Court directives, and the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Push for Independent Functioning
The ministry has encouraged PwD candidates to increasingly rely on assistive technologies rather than scribes. Tools such as software-enabled laptops, Braille, large-print formats, screen readers like JAWS and NVDA, and speech-to-text applications will be promoted to make candidates independent, preparing them for professional environments.
Phasing Out “Own Scribes”
Officials highlighted misuse in the current system, citing instances where scribes colluded with candidates, compromising exam credibility. For the next two years only, candidates may use their own scribes—but only in exceptional cases.
“Significant inputs from bodies like UPSC, DoPT, and NRA flagged ‘own scribes’ as a major vulnerability in ensuring exam integrity,” the guidelines stated.
Stricter Eligibility & Accessibility
The new rules tighten eligibility for scribes:
- Must be 2–3 years below the minimum qualification required for the exam.
- Cannot be candidates for the same exam.
- Must have no conflict of interest.
PwD candidates with functional writing limitations will continue to receive 20 minutes extra per hour, whether or not they use a scribe.
Examination centres will be made fully accessible, with ramps, lifts, wide corridors, ground-floor seating, and audio announcements. Special “quiet rooms” will be arranged for neurodiverse candidates and those with chronic health conditions.
Accountability & Penalties
The guidelines require disability etiquette training for exam staff, annual sensitisation programmes, feedback collection on scribe quality, and grievance redressal mechanisms. Empanelled scribes may be incentivised to ensure quality and availability.
Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, all personal and medical data of candidates must be securely stored.
- Officials who fail to implement the rules or exclude PwDs will face penal action.
- Malpractice by scribes or candidates will attract strict penalties.
The government said the reforms are intended to strike a balance between fair opportunity and exam integrity, while encouraging PwD candidates towards greater independence in the long run.
