India is set to introduce a repairability index for mobile phones and electronic products as part of its effort to tackle the escalating e-waste problem and encourage manufacturers to produce items that are easier to repair, officials announced on Thursday.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry is leading the initiative, which will assign a score based on key parameters to help consumers understand how easily a product can be repaired. The announcement came during a national workshop on the subject.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated, "As India emerges as the third largest economy in the world, we should have a vibrant and tech-savvy repair system."
She added, "India can become a repair hub for the world." The proposed index will be modelled after similar initiatives in other countries, such as France’s repairability index. It will evaluate products based on factors like the availability of technical documents, ease of disassembly, and the availability and pricing of spare parts.
The workshop focused on reaching a consensus among industry stakeholders on the "key parameters for assessing and evaluating the repairability index."
It also aimed to promote longevity in product design and democratise repair information to improve consumer experiences with reusing their mobile and electronic products.
Additional Secretary Bharat Khera stressed the need for transparent and affordable repair solutions, increased consumer awareness, and support for local repairers.
Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra raised concerns about the scarcity of genuine spare parts in local markets, compatibility issues with product components, and the lack of information available for consumers who wish to repair their own devices.
He noted that France’s Repairability Index evaluates products on five criteria, while the EU has additional parameters.
HCL Technologies Founder Ajai Chowdhry called for legislative action to drive the change needed.
"Today, most products are not repairable. We need to design products that can be repaired. Unless we create a law, things will not change," he said.
The government has already launched a Right to Repair Portal, with 63 companies participating, including 23 from the mobile and electronics sectors.
India, the world’s third-largest producer of electronic waste after China and the US, aims to reduce e-waste, promote sustainable practices, and create opportunities for third-party repairers in its expanding electronics market.
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