Repairability Index for Mobile and Electronics Sector

Table of Contents

Context: The committee constituted by the Department of Consumer Affairs for developing a framework on repairability index in the mobile and electronics sector has submitted its report to the Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The committee is headed by Bharat Khera, Additional Secretary, Government of India.

Repairability Index (RI)

Repairability Index is an index which aims to show the ease of repairability for a particular device and help make an informed choice while buying a device. It aims to create an ecosystem where consumers choose options that promote ‘mindful utilization‘ of their products over ‘wasteful consumption’.

Need for Repairability Index

Consumers witness lots of issues while seeking repair for their mobile phones and tablets.
Improving repair accessibility
Greater transparency of repair and post-sale service-related information to consumers.
Empowerment of consumers.
Promotion of circularity
Minimising the environmental footprint of the consumer electronics sector
Nudging OEMs and component manufacturers to develop repairable devices.
Employment generation focusing on repairs.
Reducing the menace of e-waste generation as consumers are forced to throw away their possibly repairable instruments due to the difficulty of access to repairs.

Recommendations of the Committee for Repairability Index (RI)

Department of Consumer Affairs constituted a Bharat Khera committee to develop a framework for the Repairability Index in India. The committee included stakeholders from prominent electronics and mobile companies, industry associations, consumer organisations like EPIC, government and scientific organisations. The committee gave the following recommendations:

Smartphones and tablets as early adopters of repairability Index: The Committee has decided that smartphones and tablets will be early adopters of the repairability index in the mobile and electronics sector.
Components & computation of Repairability Index: Repairability has been assessed on 6 parameters:
- Disassembly depth
- Repair information
- Availability of Spare Parts within a reasonable timeline
- Software updates
- Tools
- Fasteners (types and availability)
- Each of these 6 parameters has been accorded weightages, based on which a final Repairability Index (RI) is computed on a scale of one to five.

Priority parts which are most prone to frequent failures and have high functional relevance:
- Battery
- Display assembly
- Back cover assembly
- Front-facing camera assembly
- Rear-facing camera assembly
- Charging port
- Mechanical buttons
- Main microphone
- Speaker
- Hinge assembly or mechanical display folding mechanism
- External audio connector
Self-declaration of Repairability Index: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are required to self-declare the repairability index based on standard scoring criteria provided, with no additional compliance burden.
Easy accessibility of Repairability Index: Repairability Index should be displayed at the point of sale/purchase, e-commerce platforms and in QR codes on packaged products to enable consumers to make informed choices.

Right to Repair Portal

Department of Consumer Affairs launched the Right to Repair Portal India in 2022 to facilitate relevant repair-associated information between companies and consumers in four sectors:

(a) Automobile

(b) Mobile and electronics

(d) Farming equipment

Department of Consumer Affairs has been making consistent efforts to use this portal for the dissemination of repair-related information.