What is benchmark disability under the RPWD Act 2016?
Benchmark disability means having at least 40% of a specified disability as certified by a medical authority, as defined under Section 2(r) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Reaching this threshold is what qualifies a person for most reservations, concessions, and benefits under the Act.
Who can issue a disability certificate in India?
A disability certificate must be issued by a Medical Authority notified by the respective State or Union Territory government — typically a Medical Board at a government hospital, made up of specialists relevant to the disability being certified (e.g. an orthopedist for locomotor disability, an ENT specialist or audiologist for hearing disability, a psychiatrist for mental illness).
What is the difference between a disability certificate and a UDID card?
A disability certificate is the medical document certifying the type and percentage of disability. The UDID (Unique Disability ID) card is a single national identity card, linked to that certificate, intended to replace multiple physical certificates and enable easier access to benefits across states and departments. See our UDID guide for the full application process.
How is hearing disability percentage calculated?
Hearing disability is based on the Pure Tone Average (PTA) at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz for each ear, converted to a percentage using the gazette's ready-reckoner table, then combined across both ears using the formula: (Better ear % × 5 + Poorer ear %) / 6. Try it directly on the calculator.
How are percentages combined when a person has multiple disabilities?
The gazette uses a combining formula rather than simple addition: if a is the higher percentage and b is the lower, the combined value is a + b×(100−a)/100. This is applied iteratively when there are more than two disabilities, starting with the two highest percentages. Only disabilities individually scoring 25% or more are included.
Can disability percentage change over time?
Yes. Many conditions require periodic reassessment, and a certificate may be issued as permanent or temporary depending on whether the underlying condition is static (e.g. limb amputation) or progressive/fluctuating (e.g. some neurological or blood disorders).
Is this calculator an official government tool?
No. RPWD Helper is an independent reference tool built from the publicly available 2024 gazette guidelines, meant to help professionals cross-check calculations quickly. It is not affiliated with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment or any state government. See our About page for details.