India’s Repairability Index aims to make electronic items more durable

Source: The post India’s Repairability Index aims to make electronic items more durable has been created, based on the article “The right to repair movement in India” published in “The Hindu” on 14 May 2025. India’s Repairability Index aims to make electronic items more durable.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

For detailed information on Right to Repair Portal read this article here

Context: The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has received a report proposing a Repairability Index (RI) for electronics. It aims to help consumers identify how easily products can be repaired, amid concerns over product durability, repair costs, and growing e-waste.

Understanding the Repairability Index (RI)

1. Scoring Consumer Electronics: The RI will score mobile and electronic appliances based on ease of repair. Criteria include availability of spare parts, cost of repair, software updates, and product information.
2. Purpose of the Framework: The government aims to implement RI without affecting innovation or business ease. It seeks to balance consumer welfare with industry interests.
3. Industry Involvement: The committee drafting the RI included electronics manufacturers and industry bodies. However, consumer advocates were also part of the panel, giving hope for a more balanced outcome.

Why Repairability Matters

1. Declining Product Lifespans: Older appliances like washing machines often last longer. Newer ones fail more quickly. This isn’t always due to “planned obsolescence.” Often, lower-quality materials are used to reduce costs.
2. Impact of Metal Shortages: Attero Recycling’s CEO Nitin Gupta noted that metal content in appliances has declined. Shortages in materials like copper lead to leaner engineering. India’s status as a net metal importer adds pressure.
3. A Global Concern: U.S. lawmakers have proposed displaying repair costs on product labels. Durable products are seen as “durable wealth”, helping consumers save over time.

Environmental and Economic Implications

1. Reducing E-Waste: Repairable products support a circular economy, where parts and metals are reused. This approach has long been discussed but remains underachieved.
2. Limiting Virgin Metal Demand: Longer-lasting products help reduce the demand for newly mined metals, promoting resource conservation.
3. Economy and Ecology Aligned: Smartphones and computers are no longer improving rapidly. So, repairability and longevity make sense both ecologically and financially.

The Right to Repair Movement

1. Consumer Demand for Flexibility: Globally, the “right to repair” means consumers can repair products as they choose. It challenges companies that monopolise repair services.
2. India’s Portal Approach: India’s right to repair portal lists authorised service centres and manuals. It reflects a non-confrontational approach, favouring manufacturers.
3. Corporate Resistance: In the U.S., companies resist repair laws to protect repair revenue. Example: McDonald’s ice cream machines can only be repaired by the manufacturer’s technicians.

Balancing Industry and Consumer Interests

1. Consumer Rights vs Manufacturer Control: Consumer advocate Pushpa Girimaji called refusal to repair older lifts “highly exploitative.” She supports third-party repair and freedom of choice.
2. A Shift in Policy Direction: The RI framework reflects growing consumer and environmental awareness. It aims to make products repair-friendly, while also addressing industry concerns.

Question for practice:

Examine how the proposed Repairability Index framework seeks to balance consumer rights, environmental concerns, and industry interests in the electronics sector.