Standardization of "Certificate regarding Physical Limitation to Write"
On March 8, 2026, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) issued an Office Memorandum (No. 5-1(39)/2008-PD) to ensure better accessibility for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) in competitive examinations.
Overview of the Directive
The CSIR has forwarded a letter from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to all its laboratories and units for immediate compliance. The goal is to streamline the certification process for candidates who have physical limitations that affect their ability to write during exams.
Key Provisions for Candidates
- Compensatory Time: PwBD candidates with physical limitations to write (including those with visual impairments) are entitled to at least 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour of examination.
- Use of Scribe: This compensatory time applies whether the candidate is using a scribe or not.
- Certificate Validity: Under current 2022 guidelines, these certificates are valid for up to 6 months or as specified by the medical board. New 2025 guidelines (in abeyance until March 31, 2026) prescribe a maximum validity of one year.
Addressing Candidate Hardship
This standardization stems from a representation by Shri Antareep Maity, a candidate with 70% permanent low vision disability. Previously, candidates faced significant challenges due to:
- Varying certificate formats (Annexure A/B/C, etc.) required by different examining authorities.
- The need to repeatedly visit government hospitals for fresh verification and signatures for every new exam.
- Avoidable financial strain and loss of preparation time.
The New Standard
To remove "undue hardship," all Central and State Government examining authorities are requested to:
- Accept the standardized certificate within its stated validity period.
- Stop insisting on exam-specific certificate formats.
- Clearly mention these standardized provisions in all recruitment and examination notifications.
For full details, including the official signatures and forwarding notes, you can download the complete memorandum below.
Download PDF MemorandumEducational Purpose Only: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
Accuracy & Mistakes: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, human errors or omissions may occur.
No Liability: Under no circumstances shall the author or this website be held liable for any loss arising from the use of this information.
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