More than 96,000 vehicles have been registered as ‘adapted’ vehicles for persons with disabilities since 2020, the government informed the Parliament on Friday.

An ‘adapted’ vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle that is either specially designed and constructed or modified to accommodate a person with a physical disability and is used exclusively by or for such individuals.

Persons with disabilities, including those with an orthopedic disability of 40% or more, can purchase adapted cars at a concessional Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate, provided they obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).

According to the ministry, this concession applies only to motor vehicles that do not exceed a length of 4,000 mm. Petrol, LPG, or CNG-driven vehicles must have an engine capacity of no more than 1,200 cc, while diesel-driven vehicles must not exceed 1,500 cc.

The central government provides assistance through various schemes to help disabled individuals acquire or modify aids and appliances such as motorized tricycles, wheelchairs, prosthetic and orthotic devices, walking sticks, accessible smartphones, smart canes, low-vision aids, and hearing aids.