Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ? 1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination. 2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology. 3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Select the answer using the code given below :

The correct answer is Option B (2 only).

Statement 2 is correct: The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched on December 3, 2015, by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). Its primary objective is achieving universal, barrier-free accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across three key domains: the built environment (public infrastructure), the transportation system (airports, railway stations, and buses), and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ecosystem (digital platforms, websites, and media).

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India in 2016, not 2018. While the statement correctly identifies its provisions—such as mandating reservations in education and employment and placing a legal duty on governments to ensure accessibility—the year mentioned is factually wrong. The 2016 Act replaced the older 1995 legislation and expanded the recognized categories of disabilities from 7 to 21.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is indeed a public sector Section 8 not-for-profit company established to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship among PwDs. However, it was set up and operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (specifically DEPwD), not the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Key Takeaway: For UPSC Prelims, always associate flagship disability-related legislation and organizations (like the RPwD Act, Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, and NDFDC) directly with the nodal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE). Furthermore, memorize the year 2016 for the landmark RPwD Act, as chronological factual traps are common in UPSC statements.