University Grants Commission runs HEPSN (Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs) to help colleges and universities build inclusive campuses for students with disabilities. Colleges get grants for accessible infrastructure, assistive equipment and dedicated support units so differently-abled students can study with dignity.
HEPSN is a central UGC scheme that covers all states and union territories. It works in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, which replaced the older 1995 Act, and pushes higher education institutions to follow the accessibility rules set by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
HEPSN Scheme Overview
HEPSN stands for Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs. UGC first started this scheme in the Ninth Five-Year Plan and has kept it running through the following plans. It is a grant-based scheme, which means the money goes to the college or university, not directly to the student. The college then uses these funds to build ramps, buy screen readers, run counselling and place students in jobs.
Any college recognised by UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12B can apply, as long as it has admitted students with visual, hearing or locomotor disability as defined under the RPwD Act 2016. The scheme is run by UGC under the Ministry of Education, with support from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for policy matters related to persons with disabilities.
Main Aims of HEPSN
Before looking at the components and money, it helps to know what HEPSN wants to achieve on the ground. The scheme has a few clear aims that shape how colleges spend the grant.
- Give equal study chances to differently-abled students in every UGC-recognised college and university.
- Train college staff and teachers to understand the specific study needs of students with disabilities.
- Build ramps, rails, accessible toilets and other basic facilities so students can move around the campus on their own.
- Supply screen readers, Braille material, hearing devices and other assistive tools that help students in the classroom.
- Check that colleges follow the RPwD Act 2016 rules on admission, accessibility and reasonable accommodation.
Key Highlights of HEPSN Scheme
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs (HEPSN) |
| Launched By | University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education |
| Level | Central Scheme |
| Beneficiary States | All States and Union Territories |
| Category | Education and Learning, Social Welfare |
| Benefit Type | Grant to colleges (in kind, plus infrastructure) |
| Nodal Body | UGC, New Delhi |
| Official Website | ugc.gov.in |
Application Process for HEPSN Grant
Colleges apply for HEPSN by sending a proposal to UGC in the format given in the official guidelines. The application is submitted offline through the college along with the College Development proposal. Here is how the process works, step by step.
STEP 1 - Check that your college is recognised by UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12B and has admitted at least one student with disability as defined under the RPwD Act 2016. Without both these conditions, the application will not be considered.
STEP 2 - Set up an expert committee in the college. This committee should have faculty members, outside experts working on disability and differently-abled persons themselves. The committee must meet at least once a year to review the work done under the scheme.
STEP 3 - Download the HEPSN application proforma from the UGC website at ugc.gov.in. The prescribed format is given on page 6 of the official scheme guidelines.
STEP 4 - Fill in college details, list the students with disability already enrolled, mention the component you are applying for (Enabling Unit, accessibility grant or assistive equipment grant) and attach the College Development proposal.
STEP 5 - Send the signed proposal to UGC through the head of the institution. Keep a copy with the college office for records and audit later.
STEP 6 - Once UGC approves the proposal, the first payment is released. For future payments, the college has to submit a utilisation certificate audited by a chartered accountant.
Benefits Under HEPSN Scheme
HEPSN money is released under three separate components. A college can apply for one, two or all three, depending on what it needs. Each component has its own grant limit and its own set of rules for release.
Component 1: Enabling Unit in the College
Every participating college has to set up an Enabling Unit, which is a small support cell for students with disability. This unit helps students at the time of admission, gives counselling during the course and helps final-year students find jobs in government or private sector. A faculty member is chosen as honorary coordinator and gets a token honorarium of ₹4,000 per month. UGC also gives ₹50,000 per year to the unit for expert lectures, sensitisation programmes and day-to-day expenses.
Component 2: Accessibility Grant for Campus
UGC gives a one-time grant of up to ₹5,00,000 per college to make the campus barrier-free. The college can use this money to build ramps, install railings, make accessible toilets, put up signage in Braille and do other work in line with the RPwD Act 2016 and the harmonised accessibility standards notified by the government.
Component 3: Assistive Equipment Grant
Colleges can also get up to ₹1,50,000 as a one-time grant to buy special learning equipment. This includes screen-reading software, JAWS, scanners, Braille printers, hearing aids and other tools that help visually impaired, hearing impaired or locomotor-disabled students study on par with others.
Grant Release Pattern
| Component | How the Grant is Released |
| Enabling Unit | Coordinator honorarium and ₹50,000 given after UGC approves the proposal. Next year money is given only after audited utilisation certificate is submitted. |
| Accessibility Grant | Full grant is given once the college shares detailed building plans that follow UGC building rules. |
| Assistive Equipment | 90% given as first installment. The remaining 10% is paid as reimbursement after the college submits the utilisation certificate. |
Who Can Apply Under HEPSN
HEPSN is meant for institutions, not individual students. So the college applies on behalf of its students with disability. The college has to meet a few basic conditions before the proposal will be accepted by UGC.
- College should have already admitted students with disability, including students with visual impairment, hearing impairment or locomotor disability as per the RPwD Act 2016 list of disabilities.
- Institution must be recognised by the UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12B so that it is eligible for central government grants.
- College should have a working expert committee with faculty members and differently-abled persons that meets at least once a year to review scheme work.
Students with disability who want direct financial help for their studies should look at the Pre Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities or the Kerala Disability Scholarship Scheme as those are separate scholarship schemes for students.
Documents Needed for HEPSN
Colleges have to keep records of every student with disability enrolled in the institution to support the HEPSN proposal. When the audit happens, UGC officers can ask for these documents from the college file.
The main documents kept in the college file include Aadhaar card of the student, two passport-sized photographs signed across the front, residential certificate, disability certificate issued by the medical board, bank passbook or cancelled cheque of the student, latest passing certificate or marksheet, bonafide certificate from the institute and any other proof asked by the local social welfare office.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and HEPSN
HEPSN is not a stand-alone scheme any more. It works alongside the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, which is now the main law that protects the rights of persons with disability in India. The 2016 Act increased the list of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21 and put a legal duty on higher education institutions to give reasonable accommodation, 5% seat reservation and full campus access.
UGC has also issued Accessibility Guidelines and Standards for Higher Education Institutions, which every college has to follow. HEPSN money is one of the main ways for colleges to meet these accessibility rules without extra pressure on their own budget.
References
For the full rulebook, colleges can read the Official Scheme Guidelines issued by UGC. The full text of the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995 and the newer Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 are also available on the India Code website.
FAQ's
What is HEPSN scheme?
HEPSN is a UGC scheme that gives grants to colleges and universities so they can build accessible campuses, run Enabling Units and buy assistive equipment for students with disability.
How much grant does a college get under HEPSN?
A college can get up to ₹5 lakh one-time for accessibility work, up to ₹1.5 lakh one-time for assistive equipment, ₹50,000 per year for the Enabling Unit and ₹4,000 per month as coordinator honorarium.
Who can apply for HEPSN?
Only UGC-recognised colleges under Sections 2(f) and 12B can apply. The college must have already admitted students with disability under the RPwD Act 2016 list of disabilities.
Can students apply for HEPSN directly?
No, HEPSN is a college-level grant scheme. Students who want direct money help should apply for scholarships like the Pre Matric or Post Matric Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.
Is HEPSN still active in 2026?
Yes, HEPSN is still running under UGC. It has been aligned with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the accessibility standards notified for higher education institutions.
How is the HEPSN grant released?
Enabling Unit money and accessibility grant are given after UGC approves the proposal. The equipment grant is given as 90% first and 10% after utilisation certificate. Every next payment needs an audited utilisation certificate.
Does HEPSN cover private colleges?
Only those private colleges that are recognised by UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12B are eligible. Colleges that are not under this list cannot apply for HEPSN grants.
Where can colleges get the HEPSN application form?
The application proforma is on page 6 of the official UGC guidelines document at ugc.gov.in. The college has to send the filled proforma along with the College Development proposal.