Digital Accessibility Policy

Digital Accessibility Policy

1. Purpose and Commitment Statement

At ( www.startupnewsindia.in ) Startup News India, accessibility is a core component of our mission to democratize entrepreneurship information and empower the startup ecosystem across India. We are committed to ensuring that all individuals — regardless of their physical abilities, sensory limitations, or technological constraints — have full and equal access to our digital content and services.

We recognize that digital inclusion is a fundamental right and a key enabler of innovation, education, and social participation. Therefore, Startup News India strives to create and maintain an accessible digital environment that upholds the principles of equality, dignity, and independence for every visitor.

Our goal is to ensure that our digital platforms are compliant with global accessibility standards and national regulations, while continuously improving our practices in alignment with evolving technologies and user needs.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all digital products, services, and online communication channels operated or managed by Startup News India, including but not limited to:

• The official website: www.startupnewsindia.com
• Mobile websites and responsive web applications
• Email newsletters, subscription services, and user accounts
• Multimedia and social media integrations hosted on our platform

It also extends to all staff, contractors, web developers, editors, and third-party service providers who design, develop, or manage content and interfaces on behalf of Startup News India.

3. Governing Accessibility Standards

Startup News India’s accessibility framework is guided by the following internationally recognized and national standards:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA – Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), these guidelines serve as the benchmark for ensuring web content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 (India) – In accordance with Section 42 of the Act, we are committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to information and communication technology (ICT) on an equal basis with others.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Accessibility Guidelines (IS 17802:2022) – We endeavor to comply with these national standards for accessible ICT products and services.

4. Principles of Accessibility

Our accessibility efforts are guided by the following principles:

• Perceivable – Information and interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive, including alternative text for images, captions for videos, and adaptable layouts.
• Operable – All users must be able to navigate our website using multiple input methods, including keyboards, screen readers, and voice commands.
• Understandable – Our content and navigation must be clear, consistent, and predictable, enabling users to interact without confusion.
• Robust – Our website must be compatible with current and emerging assistive technologies, ensuring long-term accessibility.

These principles are embedded into the design, development, and content creation processes across all digital operations of Startup News India.

5. Implementation Measures

To translate our accessibility goals into actionable outcomes, Startup News India has implemented the following strategies:

1. Design and Development Standards
• All new digital assets are designed with accessibility in mind from inception.
• Our web developers follow WCAG 2.1 AA coding standards, including ARIA roles, semantic HTML, and keyboard navigation compatibility.
• Responsive and mobile-friendly designs are prioritized for users accessing via various devices and browsers.
2. Content Accessibility
• All visual media (images, infographics, charts) include descriptive alternative text.
• Videos are provided with closed captions and, where feasible, transcripts.
• Text content is written in plain, easy-to-understand language for wide readability.
3. Testing and Evaluation
• Routine audits are conducted using automated accessibility evaluation tools and manual testing by accessibility experts.
• We periodically assess compatibility with assistive technologies such as NVDA, JAWS, TalkBack, and VoiceOver.
4. Training and Awareness
• All staff involved in content creation and technology development receive accessibility training.
• Internal guidelines are regularly updated to reflect new standards and tools.
5. Procurement and Third-Party Compliance
• Third-party vendors and partners must adhere to accessibility best practices when integrating technologies or providing content to our platforms.
• Accessibility requirements are incorporated into procurement contracts and development agreements.

Feedback and Continuous Improvement

Accessibility is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing commitment. We value the perspectives of our readers, contributors, and the wider community in identifying and addressing barriers that may arise.

If you experience any difficulty in accessing our digital content, please let us know. Your feedback is essential to help us improve.

You can contact us via:
📧Email:contact@startupnewsindia.in
📮Postal Address: Startup News India, New Delhi, India

Please include the following information when reporting an issue:

• A description of the problem encountered
• The URL or section of the website affected
• The assistive technology or browser being used (if applicable)
• Your contact details, if you wish to receive a response

We aim to acknowledge accessibility inquiries within five business days and provide a resolution or update within a reasonable timeframe.

Limitations and Third-Party Content

While Startup News India maintains full control over its primary website and native digital platforms, certain sections may include third-party integrations such as:

• Embedded multimedia from external sources (e.g., YouTube, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or external ad networks)
• Third-party tools for analytics, subscription management, or payment gateways

We cannot guarantee full accessibility compliance for third-party content not under our direct control. However, we make every effort to work with these providers to encourage and support accessibility in their offerings.

Review and Accountability

This policy is reviewed annually or as required due to technological advancements, regulatory changes, or user feedback. The review is conducted by the Digital Compliance and Accessibility Officer at Startup News India, with inputs from web development, editorial, and legal teams.

Any updates to this policy will be published on this page, and major changes will be communicated to users through our announcements section or newsletters.

Accessibility Roadmap

To ensure continual progress, Startup News India maintains an Accessibility Roadmap with the following objectives:

• Expand video captioning coverage to 100% of published media by 2026.
• Conduct quarterly accessibility audits using both automated and user-based testing.
• Introduce a dedicated accessibility section in our editorial training programs.
• Enhance compatibility for regional languages using Unicode-compliant typography and screen reader-friendly formatting.
• Implement AI-assisted accessibility features such as automatic alt-text generation for real-time news uploads.

Our Vision for Digital Inclusion

At Startup News India, accessibility is more than compliance — it is a moral and social imperative. We aspire to build a digital environment that reflects India’s diversity, where entrepreneurs, investors, journalists, and readers of all abilities can engage freely and equally.

Through our continuous efforts in inclusive design, technology, and awareness, we aim to set a new benchmark for accessible digital journalism in India’s startup ecosystem.

Startup News India reaffirms its dedication to a future where information is open, inclusive, and barrier-free — for every reader, every time.

Website -  www.startupnewsindia.in