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Powering BIRD: Media Accessibility Policies

This section covers key media accessibility laws and their relevance to BIRD.

Year

Policy Milestone

Relevance to BIRD’s work

2016

  • Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016

Full Document | Extract

Section 29(h) of the Act contains 
the first mention of accessibility standards 
for media in India.

“The appropriate Government and the local authorities shall take measures to promote and protect the rights of all persons with disabilities to have a cultural life and to participate in recreational activities equally with others which include,—(h) ensuring that persons with hearing impairment can have access to television programmes with sign language interpretation or sub-titles.”

2019

These standards were released for public consultation in 2021 and are yet to be notified. They have remained a suggestion of best practices for TV channels.

The guidelines recommended making 50% of General Entertainment Content accessible by 2025.

2024

These guidelines lay out the best practices for creation and display of accessibility features like Subtitles, Audio Description and Indian Sign Language interpretation in all Feature Films screened at Cinema Theaters.

Under these guidelines, Films should be screened in theaters with a minimum of one accessibility feature each for deaf/hard of hearing persons and blind/low vision persons.

Deadlines as per its implementation schedule -

• Multilingual release films - 15 September 2024


• Film festival releases - 1 January 2025


• All other films - 15 March 2026

2024

  • Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024

Full Document | Extract

These rules mandate that producers submit accessibility features - such as same-language subtitles, same-language audio descriptions, same-language closed captions, and any other accessibility features notified by the Government, when seeking certification of their films from the CBFC.

2024

  • Recommendations on “Inputs for formulation of National Broadcasting Policy” to MIB by TRAI

Full Document | Extract

Released in June 2024, TRAI’s recommendation highlights the importance of measures like same language subtitles, audio description and Indian sign language for media access, reading literacy, learning Indian languages and promoting inclusivity.

2025

The judgment further enshrines accessibility as a fundamental right for all Indians.

Mandatory non-negotiable rules for accessibility including media access are being framed in consultation with stakeholders and will be notified by the Government by March 2025.

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