India’s Digital Accessibility Report Shows ‘Basic’ Barriers Persist Across Major Website Sectors
Mumbai, 10th November, 2025: A new national study by BarrierBreak, in partnership with the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), reveals that many of India’s most-visited websites remain inaccessible to people with disabilities. The BB100 State of Digital Accessibility in India 2025 analysed 100 top websites, finding an average of 116 accessibility errors per homepage, with the highest error rates in Entertainment (285.2), Travel & Tourism (144.3), and E-commerce (121.5) sectors.
Digital accessibility ensures that online platforms such as government portals, e-commerce sites, and digital banking services can be used independently by people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities. Despite India having over 63 million people with disabilities (NFHS-5 data), significant portions of the digital ecosystem remain out of reach. Key findings include:
-
64% of errors were at the most basic (Level A) standard, indicating foundational design and navigation issues remain widespread.
-
Most common error types: poor color contrast (36%), link issues (23%), missing keyboard operability (11%), ARIA markup issues (11%), and inadequate image descriptions (7%).
-
Public sector websites, particularly Government and Healthcare, have improved, averaging 63.8 and 59.6 errors per homepage, but still fall short of fully inclusive design.
-
Consumer-facing sectors, including Entertainment and E-commerce, continue to struggle with high error rates and inconsistent accessibility features.
“The findings highlight that millions of Indians remain excluded from essential online experiences,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP. “Entertainment, Travel, and E-commerce sectors affect daily life but remain among the least accessible. Digital access is a fundamental right, and organizations must integrate accessibility from the first line of design—not as an afterthought. Beyond moral and legal imperatives, inaccessibility represents lost customers, reduced engagement, and untapped revenue.”
Shilpi Kapoor, Founder and CEO of BarrierBreak, added, “Disability inclusion should not be treated as charity. Inclusive design improves usability for all and unlocks significant market potential. Implementing accessibility from the outset of digital transformation, rather than retrofitting post-launch, ensures equity and enhances product quality.”
The report was launched at the 4th edition of the Inclusive India: Digital First event on November 10 at JW Marriott Sahar, Mumbai. The BB100 study evaluated websites across Government, E-commerce, Education, Healthcare, News, Travel & Tourism, Entertainment, and Airlines, using BarrierBreak’s A11yInspect tool and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. The analysis focused on homepage experiences and key accessibility criteria including keyboard operability, color contrast, link clarity, ARIA implementation, and image descriptions, providing a comprehensive snapshot of India’s digital inclusion landscape.
Last year’s BB100 report highlighted major gaps in India’s financial sector. Since then, SEBI guidelines have mandated robust accessibility requirements, clear timelines, and annual third-party audits to ensure ongoing compliance, setting a precedent for measurable year-on-year improvement.
