To rate phones on repairability, India will soon have a new index that aims to fight planned obsolescence, boost sustainability, and help consumers make smarter, longer-lasting tech choices.
Smartphone and tablet manufacturers in India will soon be required to display a repairability index for their devices, enabling consumers to make better-informed choices about product durability and serviceability.
A government-appointed panel submitted its final report on Friday, outlining the framework that will guide the implementation of this new rating system.
Modelled on the energy-efficiency ratings seen on household appliances, the proposed index aims to assess how easily a device can be repaired. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and chaired by Additional Secretary Bharat Khera, is designed to promote product longevity and combat planned obsolescence.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that the industry was deliberately not designing devices for long-term use, instead encouraging consumers to purchase new products by making existing ones prone to failure.
She explained that the purpose of the repairability index was to make manufacturers more accountable and to equip consumers with clear, transparent information.
Initially, the framework will apply to smartphones and tablets. This decision follows the analysis of nearly 20,000 consumer complaints logged on the National Consumer Helpline. Based on the success of this phase, the scheme may later be extended to include laptops, desktops, and other electronic goods, according to Khare.
The broader goal of the repairability index is to create an ecosystem where product maintenance becomes a key consideration in design and marketing, rather than an afterthought. By rating devices on factors such as spare part availability, ease of disassembly, and service documentation, the index will push manufacturers to prioritise sustainability and support the right to repair movement.
This move reflects growing global concerns over e-waste and consumers’ diminishing control over the gadgets they own, potentially marking a shift in India’s electronics policy towards greater transparency and circular economy principles.
