AP Higher Education Disability Reservation (GO Ms. No.27): 5% Seats + 5-Year Age Relaxation

What this government order provides

• All Government institutions of higher education and aided higher education institutions must reserve not less than 5% seats for persons with benchmark disabilities.
• Persons with benchmark disabilities are given upper age relaxation of 5 years for admission into higher education institutions.
• Order is issued in exercise of powers under Section 32 of RPwD Act, 2016 read with AP RPwD Rules, 2023.

Who is treated as person with benchmark disability

As per Section 2(r) of RPwD Act, 2016, person with benchmark disability means a person with not less than 40% of a specified disability, as certified by the competent certifying authority.

Legal context mentioned in order

• RPwD Act, 2016 came into force replacing the earlier 1995 law framework.
• Hon'ble Supreme Court directions (dated 15-12-2017) required compliance with Section 32 for higher education admissions.
• Andhra Pradesh notified RPwD Rules, 2023 and then issued this implementation order.

What students and parents should do

1. 1

   Ensure disability certificate is valid and issued by competent certifying authority

2. 2

   Verify benchmark percentage and category details before application

3. 3

   Check age relaxation eligibility while filling counselling/admission forms

4. 4

   Keep all supporting documents ready for verification stage

5. 5

   Follow latest counselling notification along with this GO for implementation details

Official source link

• GO PDF: https://cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/apsche/PDF/2026_Provision_of_Disablity.pdf