NCPEDP-Mphasis 17th Universal Design Awards honour 14 leaders 

Fourteen individuals and organisations dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusion across India were recognised at the 17th NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2026 ceremony held in New Delhi on Friday.

The event was attended by Arvind Kumar, Director General of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, alongside representatives from industry, technology, policy, and the disability rights sector.  Established in 2010 by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and Mphasis, the awards acknowledge efforts to integrate accessibility into design and innovation.  Winners were honoured in four categories: Role Model Persons with Disabilities, Role Model Working Professionals, Role Model Companies & Organisations, and the Javed Abidi Public Policy Award. Recipients included 

• Nilesh Singit, 

• Jayna Kothari, 

• the Jai Vakeel Foundation, 

• Sruti Mohapatra, as well as 

• Unilever PLC, 

• NCERT, and 

• Gabify.

Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, stated that “while universal design was a conversation that needed to be initiated 17 years ago, accessibility has now become a right and a responsibility.” He added that inclusive design “was not a limitation on innovation but the foundation that makes innovation meaningful,” emphasising the importance of embedding accessibility from the outset in procurement, building plans, products, services, and technology solutions.  Deepa Nagraj, Senior Vice President and Global Head of ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem & Communications at Mphasis, remarked that technology is only meaningful when it reaches a wider audience. She noted that artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and evolving rights frameworks offer opportunities to scale inclusive design, and asserted that “accessibility should be treated as a design opportunity from the outset.”

During a fireside chat, Arvind Kumar highlighted the necessity for innovative financing models to support assistive technology, stating that “blended finance and innovative funding models could help turn technological possibilities into real-world access.”  The event also featured a keynote address and discussions reflecting on the 17-year journey of the Universal Design Awards, noting key milestones such as the launch of India’s first Assistive Technology Hub in 2022 and the Supreme Court’s 2025 recognition of accessibility as a fundamental right for persons with disabilities.

The awards reinforced the critical role of universal design in ensuring equal access to services, education, employment, technology, and opportunities.

By TNM (With ANI Inputs)