The Rehabilitation Council of India was set up as a registered society in 1986, under the aegies of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (then Ministry of Social Welfare) to standardize and maintain uniform standards of training of professionals. However, it was soon realised that the Society could not ensure proper standardization and acceptance of the standards by other Organizations. The Parliament enacted Rehabilitation Council of India Act in 1992. The Rehabilitation Council of India became a Statutory Body on 22nd June 1993.

The RCI Act was amended by the Parliament in 2000 to make it more broad based. The Act casts onerous responsibility on the Council. It also prescribes that any one delivering services to people with disability, who does not possess qualifications recognised by RCI, could be prosecuted. Thus the Council has the twin responsibility of standardizing and regulating the training of professional and personnel in the field of Rehabilitation and Special Education.