Measures to Improve Representation of Physically Challenged Persons in Civil Services under Central Government
	18:55 IST

To improve access and increase the representation of the physically challenged persons in the Civil Services under the central government, the government has decided that any physically challenged person, selected on the standards as applicable to the non-disabled candidate of his category, will be counted over and above the quota fixed for physically challenged persons. This would be exactly on the lines as it happens for SC/ST/OBC candidates. It has also been decided that the physically challenged persons belonging to the General Category shall be eligible for seven attempts as against existing four attempts. The physically challenged persons belonging to the OBC Category and SC/ST category would continue to be eligible for seven and unlimited attempts respectively. Additional relaxation of 10 years in the upper age limit for physically challenged persons will be continued. The Government has also decided that while reservation for the three categories of disability (visual impairment, hearing impairment and locomotor disability or cerebral palsy) shall be made separately, the interchange in the vacancies among the three categories would be possible in case of non-availability of persons of a specified category. A specially constituted Medical Board with experts in the area will examine physically challenged persons so that fair, consistent reports are available. To ensure the full utilisation of quota for physically challenged persons, it has been decided to treat the backlogs with respect to physically challenged persons in the same way as backlogs for the SC/ST categories. Union Public Service Commission will recommend physically challenged candidates after ensuring that they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria in terms of abilities/disabilities for identified services where vacancy exists. The eligibility for availing reservation against the quota for physically challenged persons would be the same as described in the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. Specific eligibility criteria as set by the Government for identified services/posts would have to be met by physically disables candidates. The implementation of these decisions shall be with prospective effect. RK