Understanding the IDEAS Scale: How Mental Disability is Certified in India

In India, obtaining a Disability Certificate for physical issues is relatively straightforward—a lost limb or visual impairment is visible.

But how do you measure the disability caused by Schizophrenia or OCD? You can’t see it, but it can be just as crippling as a physical injury.

For years, this ambiguity made it hard for patients with mental illness to get the government benefits they deserved. To solve this, the Rehabilitation Committee of the Indian Psychiatric Society created a standardized ruler: the IDEAS Scale.

The Science: Measuring Function, Not Just Symptoms

The Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale (IDEAS) doesn’t just look at what illness you have; it looks at how it stops you from living your life.

It is the government-mandated tool used by Medical Boards across India to issue disability percentages for mental illnesses (like Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Dementia, and OCD).

It assesses four specific areas of functioning over the last 2 years:

1. Self Care: Can the person bathe, dress, and eat independently?
2. Interpersonal Activities: Can they initiate and maintain conversations or relationships?
3. Communication & Understanding: Can they follow instructions or understand social cues?
4. Work: Can they perform tasks, keep a job, or manage a household?

The Tool: How It Works

The IDEAS scale combines the duration of the illness (MI2Y – Mental Illness Duration) with the severity of the dysfunction in the four areas above.

👉 Access the Guide: IDEAS – Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale

What To Do With Your Score

The IDEAS scale produces a “Global Disability Score” which is then converted into a percentage:

• 40% Disability: This is the magic number. In India, you are only eligible for government benefits (like pension, railway concessions, or job quotas) if your certified disability is 40% or higher.
• Getting Certified:
  1. Visit a Government Hospital: You must see the psychiatrist at your district government hospital.
  2. The Observation Period: They may need to observe the patient over time to fill out the IDEAS scale accurately.
  3. The Medical Board: Once scored, the Medical Board issues the certificate, which you then use to apply for a UDID Card.

Safety & Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes and professional reference.

• Official Use Only: You cannot use an online version of this test to get a certificate. It must be administered by a government-authorized medical board.
• Validity: Disability certificates for mental illness are usually temporary (valid for 5 years) and need to be renewed, as mental health can improve.

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References

• Indian Psychiatric Society. (2002). IDEAS (Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale) Manual.
• Government of India. (2018). Guidelines for Evaluation and Assessment of Mental Illness and Procedure for Certification. Gazette of India.
• Thara, R. (2005). Measuring disability in mental disorders. Indian Journal of Medical Research.