Indian Regulatory Frameworks and Accessibility in Heritage Sites: A Comparative Analysis with International Standards

Abstract

Ensuring accessibility in heritage sites requires balancing cultural integrity with universal design imperatives (ICOMOS, 1993; ICOMOS, 2011). This paper examines whether Indian regulatory frameworks sufficiently address accessibility compared to international benchmarks (ADA, 2010; United Nations, 2006). A mixed-method design approach was adopted: (i) policy and content analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), National Building Code (2016), and Archaeological Survey of India guidelines against the Americans with Disabilities Act (2010) and ICOMOS charters; (ii) bibliometric analysis of 142 Scopus-indexed publications (1982–2025) on accessibility and heritage. Results reveal that Indian frameworks provide only partial and non-enforceable provisions, lacking typology-specific guidance, whereas international standards are comprehensive and enforceable. Bibliometric findings confirm this gap: Indian-focused publications (n = 6) showed a mean accessibility coverage ratio of 0.013, significantly lower than international-focused studies (n = 25; mean 0.042; Welch’s t = −2.56, p = 0.023). Expert consensus highlighted weak enforcement, insufficient typology sensitivity, and poor institutional coordination. The findings from the study conclude that Indian frameworks inadequately address accessibility in heritage contexts, underscoring the need for policy reform, building typology-specific standards, mandatory enforcement and stakeholder-driven implementation.