**Executive Summary**
This document answers questions raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1411 regarding the issuance of Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards and the functioning of District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs). As of December 5, 2025, 1,31,13,616 UDID cards have been issued. The government has taken corrective measures to address challenges in UDID card issuance and is working to strengthen DDRCs, with a new online portal launched in July 2025 for proposal submission and processing.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UDID Card Issuance:**
* As of December 5, 2025, 1,31,13,616 UDID cards have been issued across the country.
* Based on the 2011 census, approximately 2.68 crore persons with disabilities (PwDs) are in India.
* **Challenges in UDID Coverage:**
* Shortage of medical experts for disability assessment at the State/UT level.
* Limited number of authorized hospitals for UDID card issuance.
* Pending applications for UDID cards with hospitals.
* Lack of awareness among PwDs.
* **Corrective Measures for UDID Issuance:**
* Revised disability assessment guidelines were notified on March 12, 2024, to include private medical doctors on medical boards.
* Eight training programs on revised disability assessment guidelines have been conducted for approximately 6000 medical professionals.
* Regular training of UDID Portal functionaries.
* Regular meetings by senior officers of the department with State/UT governments for timely disposal of pending applications.
* **District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs):**
* DDRCs are established and operated with State Government support under the supervision of the District Magistrate.
* The Central Government provides financial assistance, while day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the State Government and district administration.
* **DDRC Review and Strengthening:**
* An impact evaluation study has been undertaken to assess the Scheme's continuation.
* Scheme guidelines have been revised to incorporate strengthening and modernizing efforts, including providing more staff and improving facilities.
* Online proposal submission and acceptance under DDRCs started in FY 2024-25.
* A new dedicated online portal for submission and processing of proposals under DDRS, including DDRC, was launched in July 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)**
* **Impact**: Increased access to UDID cards for identification and access to services. Potential improvements in district-level rehabilitation services.
* **Action Required**: PwDs should apply for UDID cards and utilize the services provided by DDRCs.
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact**: Expected to oversee DDRCs' operations and administer UDID card issuance through hospitals.
* **Action Required**: States/UTs need to support the functioning of DDRCs, ensure adequate staffing, and expedite the UDID card issuance process.
**District Magistrates**
* **Impact**: Responsible for the overall supervision of DDRCs in their district.
* **Action Required**: District Magistrates should oversee the operations of DDRCs to ensure that they are providing quality services to persons with disabilities.
**Medical Professionals**
* **Impact**: To participate in disability assessments for UDID card issuance.
* **Action Required**: Medical professionals (including private doctors) should familiarize themselves with the revised assessment guidelines and participate in medical boards to assess disabilities.
**Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities**
* **Impact**: Responsible for monitoring UDID card issuance and strengthening DDRCs.
* **Action Required**: Continue to provide financial assistance, training, and guidance to State/UT governments and DDRCs.
Key Entities Referenced
Unique Disability ID (UDID): A national-level initiative to create a unified identification card for persons with disabilities to ensure access to services and entitlements.
District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs): Centers established to provide rehabilitation services and support to persons with disabilities at the district level.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: The central government ministry responsible for the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities, including oversight of UDID and DDRC initiatives.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016): A law enacted to safeguard the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities. The UDID initiative is related to the enforcement of this act.
States and Union Territories: The regional governments that are critical to the implementation and coverage of the UDID and DDRC programs.
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1411
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 09/12/2025
ISSUANCE OF UDID CARDS
1411. Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind:
Shri Devusinh Chauhan:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of issuance of Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards in the country, including
the total number of eligible persons yet to be covered;
(b) whether any major challenges have been identified in achieving universal UDID coverage in
various States and Union Territories;
(c) if so, the details of corrective measures being taken by the Government to ensure timely
issuance, verification and 100% saturation of UDID cards;
(d) whether the Government has undertaken any recent review or assessment of the functioning
and service delivery of District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs);
(e) if so, the key observations or findings from such reviews, particularly regarding
infrastructure, staffing, outreach and service utilisation;
(f) whether the Government proposes to strengthen, modernise or expand the network of
DDRCs; and
(g) if so, the details of any planned initiatives in this regard ?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B. L. VERMA)
(a) As per the 2011 Census, there are about 2.68 crore persons with disabilities (PwDs) in India.
Since the launch of the UDID project a total of 1,31,13,616 ( as on 05.12.2025) UDID cards have
been issued across the country by the hospitals authorised by the state/UT governments.
(b) Major challenges:
(i) Shortage of medical experts to assess the disabilities of PwDs at the State/UT level,.
(ii) Less number of authorised hospitals in the State/UT governments for issuance of
UDID cards.
(iii) Pendency of applications for UDID cards with hospitals.
(iv) Lack of awareness among the PwDs.
(c) and (d) (i) Notification of revised disability assessment guidelines for assessment of Persons
included under RPwD Act, 2016 was done on 12.03.2024 which provides for the provision of
inclusion of private medical doctors in the medical board to cater to the shortage of specialist at
the designated hospitals in the States/UTs.
(ii) Conducted 8 training programs on revised disability assessment guidelines with about
6000 medical professionals at various zones of the nation.
(iii) Regular training of the UDID Portal functionaries by the department.
(iv) Regular meeting by the senior officers of the department with the State/UT government
for timely disposal of pending applications.
(e) The District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs) are established and operated with
the support of the State Governments and function under the overall supervision of the
District Magistrate. Under the Scheme, the Central Government mainly provides financial
assistance in the form of viability-gap support, while the day-to-day management, staffing
arrangements, infrastructure support and operational activities fall within the responsibilities
of the State Government and district administration. For the appraisal of the Scheme for its
continuation in the forthcoming Finance Commission cycle, an impact evaluation study hasrecently been undertaken. The study has brought out several findings including the
contribution of DDRCs in providing district-level rehabilitation services, increasing local
accessibility for persons with disabilities, facilitating early identification and intervention
activities. The study report also shows the enabling role of DDRCs in strengthening linkages
with district health and education systems and in improving awareness and outreach on
disability-related services. Further, the report also shows that DDRCs largely function from
government or hospital premises thus ensuring basic functionality. Further, outreach
practices remain robust ensuring effective service delivery.
(f) and (g): The scheme’s guidelines were revised incorporating strengthening and modernising
efforts e.g. provision for more rehabilitation professionals/staff, improved facilities etc.
Submission/acceptance of online proposals under DDRCs was started from FY 2024-25. Also,
in July, 2025, a new dedicated online portal for submission and processing of proposals under
DDRS including DDRC has also been started.
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