A disability certificate, called viklang certificate or divyang certificate or handicap certificate in different regions, is your medical proof of disability. It is what unlocks every scheme, from pensions and scholarships to travel concessions and tax savings. In 2026 it is issued through the UDID portal at swavlambancard.gov.in, free, and you get the UDID card together with it. Here is exactly how.
A disability certificate is an official medical document that states the type and percentage of your disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The Act covers 21 conditions including locomotor, visual, hearing, speech, intellectual, autism, mental illness, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, thalassaemia, haemophilia, sickle cell, muscular dystrophy and acid attack.
Since 2017 every fresh certificate in India is issued through the UDID portal, and you get the UDID card together with it. The viklang, divyang and handicap certificate names you may hear all refer to the same single document.
Any Indian resident with a recognised disability can apply. You do not need an existing certificate to start. The process issues a fresh one.
The medical board examines you and decides your disability percentage based on the official guidelines for evaluation of various disabilities notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The percentage matters because different schemes use different thresholds.
Most state benefits open at 40 percent or more, which is the legal definition of a person with disability. The central IGNDPS pension and some scholarships need 80 percent or more, which is the threshold for severe or benchmark disability. The 80U income tax deduction also splits at this line, Rs 75,000 for 40 to 80 percent, Rs 1.25 lakh for 80 percent and above.
Keep these ready before you start, and make sure every scan is clear. Tap each as you gather it.
Open swavlambancard.gov.in and click on Apply for Disability Certificate and UDID Card. Sign up with your mobile number and email, and verify the OTP.
Enter your name, address, date of birth, Aadhaar and contact details. The district you choose decides which medical board will assess you, so pick the one where you actually live.
Upload the recent photo, address proof, ID proof and any past medical records. Use clear colour scans, blurred or rotated uploads are the single biggest reason for delays.
Pick the category that matches your condition. If you have more than one disability, tick all that apply, the board will record each and the highest applicable percentage.
The portal assigns you a date, place and time at a government civil hospital or designated medical board. Carry the printed acknowledgement, your photograph and originals. Some states allow video assessment for easy cases.
Once the board enters its findings, the certificate and UDID card are generated together. Download the e-certificate and e-card from your PwD login. The printed card arrives by Speed Post in 2 to 4 weeks.
For an adult with a permanent, non-progressive disability the certificate has lifelong validity and never needs renewal. Children under 18 and anyone issued a temporary certificate renew every five years because the percentage can change with age or treatment.
If your condition changes, you can request a fresh assessment from the same portal. Apply for renewal a little before the expiry date and you keep the same UDID number.
You will get both, and they are linked. The medical board issues your disability certificate, and the UDID card is generated from it with a unique national number. The certificate proves the condition and percentage, the UDID card is the portable national ID linked to a central database.
Most institutions still accept the paper or e-certificate, but more central schemes now ask for the UDID card, so the card covers you everywhere. Once issued, you do not need to re-prove your disability.
Both the certificate and the UDID card are issued at the same place, free.
The application is completely free. Beware of agents who charge fees for what you can do yourself. Our team can review your documents before you submit, free of charge.
Go to swavlambancard.gov.inYes. Viklang, divyang and handicap certificate are different regional names for the same single document, issued under the RPwD Act, 2016.
Offline applications through a civil hospital still exist, but in 2026 every fresh certificate is entered into the UDID portal anyway, so applying through swavlambancard.gov.in is faster and more reliable.
Most state schemes need 40 percent or more. Central pension under IGNDPS and a few scholarships need 80 percent or more. The certificate captures the exact percentage and benefits read off it.
Yes. If your condition changes you can apply for a reassessment from your PwD login. A fresh medical board date is assigned. Most schemes use the latest valid certificate.
The Act covers 21 conditions and an open Others category. If your condition is not directly listed, the medical board still examines you and decides under the closest matching head.
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