India Set to Introduce Repairability Index for Smartphones and Tablets: Report

In a move aimed at promoting sustainability and consumer awareness, the Indian government is set to introduce a repairability index for smartphones and tablets. A government-appointed panel, constituted by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and chaired by Additional Secretary Bharat Khera, has submitted a comprehensive report recommending a framework for the index. The initiative seeks to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions by highlighting how easily a device can be repaired.

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What the Repairability Index Covers

The framework, titled ‘Repairability Index for Mobile and Electronic Sector’, mirrors global practices such as energy efficiency ratings for appliances. It proposes a five-point rating scale to assess the ease of repair of electronic devices. The rating will be based on several key parameters, including the repairability of critical components such as screens, batteries, and charging ports; ease of disassembly; types of tools required; availability of spare parts; and software update policies.

Encouraging Responsible Manufacturing

“Companies are not manufacturing devices for life. They are actually forcing consumers to buy another product because they have planned for their obsolescence. Technology has favoured making sure products fail and have short lifespans,” Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare told PTI.

The whole purpose of the repairability index is to sensitise manufacturers about their responsibility for providing a repair ecosystem and to also rate their products on the index so that consumers can take informed decisions, she reportedly said.