The Person with Disability Act, 1995 mandates that persons with disabilities be provided with equal opportunities and protects their rights to full participation. This, therefore, requires that spaces be designed to suit the needs of all persons with disabilities.Also, Model Building Bye Laws, 2015 mandate that barrier free environments are maintained to ensure inclusive cities and universal designs.

These guidelines will apply to all public buildings in India, including the buildings where access is open to general public.

The guidelines and specifications deal with access to, movement within and around buildings, by Persons with Disabilities and elderly persons.

The intent is to make buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by all people including those living with disabilities and may include those with inability to walk or difficulty in walking, reliance on walking/ mobility aids, blindness and visual impairments, speech and hearing impairments, limited-coordination of motor movements, reaching and manipulation, lack of stamina, difficulty in interpretation and reacting to sensory information and extremities of physical size.