I once bought a set of kitchen scales that chirped happily with bright numbers on a tiny display. Except I could not read them. I ended up holding my phone’s camera at a weird angle to zoom in, all while trying not to spill flour on the lens. Accessibility was not even a thought in the design. That is exactly why I paid attention when India announced draft standards for everyday products.

These proposals cover more than gadgets. They touch packaging, clothing, medical devices and even the way household tools are shaped. For someone blind or partially sighted, this means tactile grips, braille on labels, high contrast markings, or interfaces that actually work with a screen reader.

Why This Feels Different

Plenty of countries have accessibility laws already. The UK has the Equality Act, the US has the ADA, the EU is rolling out its Accessibility Act. They all pushed things forward. What India has published feels different because it does not just ask politely. It adds testing, accreditation and renewal. Products would be rated on clear levels and subject to review by outside bodies.

In other words, it is not just guidance. There is both a carrot and a stick. Incentives such as subsidies or tax breaks encourage compliance, while fines and recalls sit waiting for companies that ignore the rules. That monitoring mechanism is what many other regions still lack.

Why It Matters Beyond India

I live in the UK. These guidelines will not directly affect me, at least not in the short term. But product design is rarely confined by borders. If a company has to redesign packaging to include braille or tactile markers for India, it is simpler and cheaper to roll that out globally. Accessibility has a way of spilling over.

Think about voice controlled assistants. They were not created solely for blind users, but for many of us they are a lifeline. Once they proved useful for mainstream consumers, adoption went through the roof. The same thing happens when accessibility standards push companies to rethink products. What begins as compliance in one market often becomes normal everywhere.

The Blind Analogy

Imagine walking through your own house, but half the doors are the wrong size and a few have invisible handles. You can still live there, but every day is full of small battles. Now imagine a builder fixes those doors so anyone can open them without thinking. Suddenly life feels smooth, not just for you but for every visitor. That is the power of accessibility when it is baked into the design.

The Challenge Ahead

There is always a gap between drafting rules and enforcing them. Accrediting bodies need to be resourced properly, otherwise the whole system risks becoming a rubber stamp. Incentives also need to be meaningful for small manufacturers who operate on thin margins. And public awareness matters. If consumers do not recognise or value accessible features, companies may cut corners.

Still, the intent is strong. Accessibility is not framed as a charity measure or optional extra. It is structured, testable and enforceable. That is an important step.

Closing Thought

Even though these standards are being developed in India, their influence will not stay there. When companies adapt for accessibility in one place, it often benefits everyone everywhere. If this draft takes hold, the knock-on effects could show up quietly in our kitchens, workplaces and shops here in the UK too.

It is like replacing those doors in the house. Once you know how smooth life can be, you wonder why we ever settled for less.