The government has introduced new guidelines for the use of scribes by persons with disabilities (PwDs) in competitive exams. The new rules prioritize technological aids like software-enabled laptops, Braille, or large-print devices as the primary option for PwDs.
The use of a scribe, or a person who writes for the test-taker, is now considered a “last resort” and will be provided only if the necessary technological support is unavailable or if the nature of the disability requires it. The new rules also make it mandatory for examining bodies such as UPSC and NEET to create their own pool of scribes to maintain the integrity and fairness of the examination process.