Website Accessibility Compliance in India: What Organisations Must Know

Digital accessibility has moved from being a “best practice” to a core compliance expectation in India. As websites, portals, and digital services become the primary interface between organisations and users, accessibility is now closely tied to governance, inclusion, and regulatory responsibility. Whether an organisation operates in the public sector, private sector, or regulated industries, understanding accessibility compliance is no longer optional.

India’s Accessibility Landscape

India’s digital ecosystem serves a vast and diverse population, including millions of persons with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, voice input, and magnification tools. When websites are not designed with accessibility in mind, they unintentionally exclude a significant portion of users.

Recognising this, India has steadily aligned its digital governance approach with global accessibility standards. Accessibility today is viewed not only as a social responsibility, but as an essential requirement for equal access to information, services, and opportunities.

WCAG 2.1 AA: The Foundation Standard

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 form the foundation of digital accessibility worldwide. In India, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is widely accepted as the benchmark for accessible websites.

WCAG is organised around four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. These principles translate into practical requirements such as providing text alternatives for images, sufficient colour contrast, keyboard accessibility, clear structure, and compatibility with assistive technologies.

Aligning with WCAG 2.1 AA gives organisations a globally recognised framework to assess and improve accessibility while reducing compliance risk.

GIGW and Its Role in India

The Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW), issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), provide India’s official framework for accessible government websites. GIGW incorporates WCAG principles and adapts them for Indian public digital platforms.

GIGW is mandatory for government portals and widely referenced by public sector undertakings, educational institutions, and large enterprises. Compliance with GIGW demonstrates digital maturity and commitment to inclusive access.

Private Sector Adoption and Regulatory Expectations

Accessibility is increasingly relevant for private sector organisations, especially listed companies and regulated entities. Regulators such as SEBI, RBI, and IRDAI emphasise fair and inclusive digital communication.

Investor websites, disclosures, annual reports, online forms, and grievance mechanisms must be accessible to all users. Inaccessible websites or documents can create compliance gaps and expose organisations to regulatory scrutiny.

Accessibility as a Compliance Requirement

Accessibility is becoming a compliance requirement for three key reasons. First, digital platforms are often the primary channel for delivering services. Second, accessibility failures carry legal and regulatory risk. Third, accessibility is now a governance and reputation issue.

Organisations that fail to address accessibility may face complaints, corrective actions, or reputational damage.

Legal and Reputational Risks

India’s legal framework increasingly recognises the rights of persons with disabilities to access digital services. Organisations that ignore accessibility risk legal exposure and public criticism.

Beyond legal risks, inaccessible websites undermine trust, damage brand reputation, and signal poor governance practices.

Ongoing Compliance, Not a One-Time Exercise

Accessibility is not a one-time fix. Websites evolve, content changes, and new features are introduced regularly. Without ongoing reviews, accessibility issues can reappear.

Organisations should adopt regular accessibility audits, remediation planning, and governance processes to maintain compliance.

Conclusion

Website accessibility compliance in India is no longer limited to government portals. With WCAG 2.1 AA as the technical foundation and GIGW as the national framework, accessibility is a shared responsibility across sectors.

Organisations that proactively address accessibility reduce compliance risk, strengthen governance, and ensure inclusive digital access for all users.