India plans repairability index for cellular, electronics to deal with e-waste

India is planning a repairability index for cell phones and digital merchandise to handle the rising e-waste drawback and encourage producers to provide extra simply repairable gadgets, officers stated on Thursday. The Consumer Affairs Ministry is spearheading the initiative, which can present a rating on key parameters to tell shoppers in regards to the ease with which a product might be repaired, the officers stated at a nationwide workshop on the problem.

Addressing the workshop, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated: “As India emerges because the third largest economic system on the earth, we should always have a vibrant and tech-savvy restore system.”

She additionally added, “India can turn into a restore hub for the world.”

The proposed index might be much like initiatives in different nations, corresponding to France’s repairability index. It will charge merchandise on standards together with availability of technical paperwork, ease of disassembly, spare elements availability and pricing.

The workshop was aimed toward establishing a consensus amongst business stakeholders on “key parameters for accessing and evaluating repairability index” apart from selling longevity in product design, and democratizing restore data to boost shopper experiences in reusing the cellular and electronics merchandise they personal.

Additional Secretary Bharat Khera emphasised the necessity for clear and inexpensive restore options, elevated shopper consciousness, and assist for native repairers.

Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra highlighted issues in regards to the lack of real spare elements in native markets, compatibility points with product parts, and the absence of knowledge for shoppers to restore their very own units.

He additionally talked about that the Repairability Index of France charges merchandise on 5 standards, whereas the EU has extra parameters.

HCL Technologies Founder Ajai Chowdhry referred to as for laws to drive change.

“Today, most merchandise aren’t repairable. We must design merchandise which might be repaired…. Unless we create a regulation, issues is not going to change,” he stated.

The authorities has already launched a Right to Repair Portal, with 63 firms onboard, together with 23 from the cellular and electronics sector.

India is the third largest digital waste producer globally after China and the US.

The initiative goals to cut back e-waste, promote sustainable practices, and create alternatives for third-party repairers in India’s rising electronics market.