Pune: Visually Impaired Student Types Her Own HSC Board Exam, Scores 86.83%
Pune, 2nd May 2026: In a monumental stride toward inclusive education, Riddhi Patil, a visually impaired 12th-grade Commerce student from BMCC College, Pune, has made history by appearing for her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board exams entirely without the assistance of a scribe. By independently typing her exam, Riddhi achieved an outstanding score of 86.83%.
Riddhi is the first visually impaired student in Pune to type her own board exam and stands as the only 12th-standard student to do so in the current academic year. Traditionally, visually impaired students have had to rely heavily on writers (scribes) during examinations. This dependence often left their final marks vulnerable to the scribe’s writing speed, subject comprehension, and accuracy. By shattering this reliance and opting to take the exam independently, Riddhi has taken a massive step toward educational self-reliance for visually impaired students.
Her journey of independence began in the 11th grade. Through rigorous and regular typing practice, Riddhi successfully took her internal, practice, and final exams using a revolutionary accessible software platform called “SwaLekhan Test.”
Developed by Uma Badve at the Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalaya, “SwaLekhan Test” is India’s first fully accessible digital examination platform tailored for visually impaired students. The software allows students to seamlessly type both objective and descriptive answers, greatly enhancing their typing speed and accuracy while building the confidence necessary to take exams independently.
Riddhi’s success is a shining testament not only to her hard work but also to the Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalaya, which is currently celebrating 30 years of uninterrupted, dedicated service to visually impaired students pursuing higher education. Marking this milestone anniversary, the organization proudly reported a 100% passing rate for its 12th-standard students this year.
Founded by Meera Badve, Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalaya has empowered over 3,500 visually impaired youth in higher education over the past three decades. The Badve family has dedicated their home and lives to the holistic development—body, mind, and soul—of these students, adopting and offering guardianship to numerous blind children who were forced onto the streets due to severe poverty.
Today, the institution provides comprehensive support spanning from the 11th grade until students secure employment. This includes educational assistance, accessible technology, financial aid, accommodation, skill development, and career guidance. Niwant runs specialized classes for Arts and Commerce students, covering subjects such as Economics, Political Science, History, Sociology, Bookkeeping & Accountancy, and Organization of Commerce.
This academic year, 36 students from Niwant achieved remarkable success across both streams. The top honors at the institute were claimed by:
Commerce Stream (First Rank): Riddhi Patil – 86.83%
Arts Stream (First Rank): Aditya Mangal – 84.83%
