JoSAA 2026 for PwD Candidates – Special Seats & Documents
5% horizontal reservation across all categories — how PwD benefits work, what certificate you need, and accessible facilities at IITs and NITs.
PwD Reservation: How It Works in JoSAA
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) get 5% horizontal reservation at all IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs participating in JoSAA 2026. As per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, a "benchmark disability" of at least 40% qualifies a candidate for this reservation.
The key concept here is horizontal reservation. Unlike vertical categories (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, General), PwD reservation is layered across all vertical categories. This means:
| Category | PwD Sub-category | Seat Pool |
|---|---|---|
| General/Open | PwD-GEN | 5% of Open seats |
| OBC-NCL | PwD-OBC-NCL | 5% of OBC-NCL seats |
| SC | PwD-SC | 5% of SC seats |
| ST | PwD-ST | 5% of ST seats |
| EWS | PwD-EWS | 5% of EWS seats |
A PwD candidate from OBC-NCL background competes in the PwD-OBC-NCL pool — they do not lose their OBC-NCL category benefit. The PwD status is an additional advantage layered on top of the vertical category.
Disability Certificate: Who Issues It & What It Must Say
The disability certificate is the most critical document for PwD candidates in JoSAA. Getting the right certificate from the right authority avoids rejection at document verification.
Accepted Certificate Authorities
- • Medical Board of a Government Hospital (District Civil Hospital or above)
- • Chief Medical Officer (CMO) or authorized representative
- • Composite Regional Centers (CRCs) run by MSJE
- • National Institute for persons with specific disabilities (NIs)
NOT Accepted
- • Private hospital certificates (even from super-specialty hospitals)
- • Certificates from individual doctors, even government doctors
- • Old certificates not mentioning disability percentage numerically
- • Certificates not in RPwD Act 2016 prescribed format
The certificate must explicitly state the percentage of disability (must be 40% or more), the type of disability (locomotor, visual, hearing, intellectual, etc.), and must be issued in the format prescribed under the RPwD Act 2016. The UDID (Unique Disability ID) card, if available, should also be carried.
Accessible Infrastructure at IITs and NITs
Before selecting choices, PwD candidates should consider the accessibility infrastructure at different institutes. All IITs and NITs are required under the RPwD Act to provide accessible campuses, but the actual implementation varies significantly.
Wheelchair-accessible classrooms
Most IITs and older NITs have ramps and accessible routes to lecture halls
Accessible hostels
Ground-floor rooms and accessible washroom facilities for PwD students at most CFTIs
Library accessibility
Accessible reading rooms, assistive technology in some institutes
Academic support
Extra time in internal exams, access to note-takers or scribes as needed
Transport
Some institutes provide campus transport for mobility-impaired students
PwD Cell/Coordinator
Most IITs have dedicated disability coordinators per the UGC guidelines
It is recommended to visit or contact the disability coordinator at your allotted institute before joining to understand specific accommodations available.
Complete Documents Checklist for PwD Candidates
JoSAA 2027: complete guide
Dates, eligibility, pattern, syllabus, result and counselling in one place.
1What is the minimum disability percentage required for PwD reservation in JoSAA?
2How does horizontal PwD reservation work in JoSAA?
3Who issues the disability certificate for JoSAA?
4Are scribe and extra time allowed for PwD candidates in JEE and during counselling?
5What documents does a PwD candidate need for JoSAA 2026 reporting?
Know Your College
Before Counselling
Predict your college using JoSAA 2026 cutoff data across IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.
Related Links
UDID Card Recommended
Apply for UDID (Unique Disability ID) at swavlambancard.gov.in. While not mandatory for JoSAA 2026, it simplifies future processes and is accepted as disability proof across government schemes.