India Introduces Repairability Index to Combat E-Waste

India is initiating a repairability index for mobile phones and electronic products to mitigate e-waste and promote easier repairs. Spearheaded by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, it aims to guide consumers on repair ease based on key parameters. The initiative aims to create a sustainable electronics market and support local repairers.

India is set to launch a repairability index for mobile phones and electronic products, aiming to address the burgeoning e-waste problem and encourage manufacturers to create easily repairable items. Officials made the announcement on Thursday, highlighting the initiative's potential impact.

Spearheaded by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the index will provide ratings on critical parameters to inform consumers about the ease of repairing a product. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that as India ascends to become the world's third-largest economy, it is crucial to foster a vibrant and tech-savvy repair system. She envisions India becoming a global repair hub.

The workshop, organized to gather industry consensus on evaluating repairability and promoting sustainable product design, saw contributions from various officials. Additional Secretary Bharat Khera emphasized the need for transparent, affordable repair solutions, while Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra raised concerns about the availability of genuine spare parts and compatibility issues. HCL Technologies Founder Ajai Chowdhry advocated for legislative measures to enforce change, highlighting the importance of designing repairable products.

(With inputs from agencies.)