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Smartphones and tablets will be the first two electronic consumer items to be brought under the ‘Repairability Index‘ regime.
The ‘repairability index’ is a label that manufacturers put on electrical and electronic equipment to inform consumers about the repairability of the entire product or its components.The index rates products on six core parameters – disassembly depth; repair information; availability of spare parts within a reasonable timeline; software updates; tools; and fasteners (types and availability).
Index by original cos will enable people make informed choices
A govt-appointed committee has recommended to the consumer affairs department a self-declared ‘Repairability Index’ by original manufacturers for these products to enable customers to make informed choices. The manufacturers will have to rate the devices on this index upfront so that consumers get full information, as per suggestions of the panel.
As per the complaints lodged with National Consumer Helpline (NCH), a large number of consumers face issues while seeking repair for their mobile phone and tablets. The number of such complaints has increased from 19,057 in 2022-23 to 21,020 in 2023-24 and to 22,864 in 2024-25.
The govt panel has also suggested that the index should be displayed at the point of sale/ purchase, e-commerce platforms and in the form of QR code on packaged products.
In an official statement, the consumer affairs department said that the committee constituted for the Framework on Repairability Index in mobile and electronic sector has submitted its report. Scoring criteria was evolved for each of these parameters and weightages were decided. “After aggregation of weightages for priority parts, a RI on a five-point numeric scale is arrived at,” govt said. The panel has identified priority parts which are most prone to frequent failures and have high functional relevance.Now the department will examine the recommendations and come up with a draft guidelines for wider stakeholders consultation before bringing out final guidelines.
Sources said since the committee has given its reporter after long consultation with stakeholders, including representatives from Apple, Samsung, Google, Vivo, HMD Mobiles, Dell and HP, there is high likelihood of most of the recommendations becoming part of the guidelines.
