India, April 1 -- "Cabs should also be asked to accommodate wheelchairs," observed the Supreme Court of India, on 20 March 2026, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation on first- and last-mile connectivity for persons with disabilities. The bench, led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, highlighted the plight of millions of wheelchair users in Indian cities.

Beyond Labels: Counting access, not intent

In recent years, India has shifted the way it talks about disability. The Government of India now officially uses the term "Divyangjan," derived from Sanskrit words meaning "one with divine abilities," replacing older, more limiting language. This was aimed at highlighting the dignity, strengths, and potential of such persons and ...