The committee formed to develop a framework for a Repairability Index (RI) in the Mobile and Electronic Sector has submitted its report to the Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution announced on May 3, 2025, that the committee’s recommendations align with global best practices, aiming to facilitate industry innovation and ease of doing business. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will be required to self-declare the Repairability Index based on standard scoring criteria, without facing additional compliance burdens.
The committee recommends that the Repairability Index be displayed at the point of sale/purchase, e-commerce platforms, and as a QR code on packaged products, empowering consumers to make informed choices.
The Repairability Index seeks to foster an ecosystem where consumers prioritize “mindful utilization” of products over “wasteful consumption.” The Department of Consumer Affairs aims to promote a self-reliant, sustainable, and consumer-friendly economy by providing consumers with easy and hassle-free repair options.
An analysis of grievances from the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) revealed a significant increase in consumer issues related to mobile phone and tablet repairs. Complaints in the Mobiles and Tablets product category rose from 19,057 in 2022-2023 to 21,020 in 2023-2024 and further to 22,864 in 2024-2025. This increase highlighted the need for improved repair accessibility and transparency of repair and post-sale service information.
In September 2024, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) established a committee chaired by Shri Bharat Khera, Additional Secretary, to develop the Repairability Index (RI) framework.
The committee included stakeholders from various sectors:
- Industry representatives from companies like Apple, Samsung, Google, Vivo, HMD Mobiles, Dell, and HP.
- Industry associations such as ICEA and MAIT.
- Representatives from consumer organizations like EPIC.
- Officials from DoCA, Meity, and MSME.
- Scientific organizations like NTH and BIS.
The committee was tasked with recommending a robust framework for the Repairability Index (RI) in the Mobile and Electronics Sector. Smartphones and tablets were identified as the initial product category for notification.
The committee identified the following 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(s)
- Speaker
- Hinge assembly or mechanical display folding mechanism
- External audio connector(s)
The Repairability Index is assessed on six core parameters:
Scoring criteria and weightages were developed for each parameter. A Repairability Index on a five-point numeric scale is calculated after aggregating the weightages for priority parts.
The committee actively engaged with manufacturers, industry associations, consumer advocacy groups, and government representatives to gather diverse perspectives and ensure the framework’s practicality and effectiveness.
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) launched the Right to Repair Portal India in 2022 to facilitate the exchange of repair-related information between companies and consumers in the Automobile, Mobile and Electronics, Consumer Durables, and Farming Equipment sectors. Over the past two years, the department has worked to use the portal for disseminating repair information, with more than 65 companies across the four sectors providing relevant details to consumers.
