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Context:

India is formalising the Right to Repair via a Repairability Index for consumer electronics.

About Right to Repair Movement

It empowers consumers to fix their electronic devices, appliances, or other products instead of being forced to replace them. It encourages sustainable consumption and reduces electronic waste (e-waste).In India, the movement gained push as a response to growing e-waste and the need for longer-lasting products. Globally, it aligns with the circular economy, where products are reused, repaired, or recycled to minimize waste and resource use.

About Repairability Index (RI)

It is a scoring system that rates how easy it is to repair electronic products like smartphones, tablets, or appliances. In India, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) announced in May 2025 that a committee submitted a report proposing this framework.

The RI evaluates products based on:

• Availability of spare parts: Are replacement parts easily accessible?
• Cost of repair: Are repairs affordable?
• Software updates: Do manufacturers provide updates to keep devices functional?
• Access to information: Are repair manuals or guides available?

Products receive a score on a five-point scale (1 to 5).

• A score of 1 indicates a device is hard to repair, requiring complex disassembly, while a 5 means it’s easy to fix with accessible parts.
• Manufacturers must display this score at stores, e-commerce platforms, or via QR codes on packaging, helping consumers choose repair-friendly products.
• It promotes transparency, empowers buyers, and supports sustainability by extending product lifespans and reducing e-waste.

The RI draws inspiration from global practices, like France’s Repairability Index, which grades products out of 10 and uses color codes (green for easy-to-repair, red for difficult).

About Planned Obsolescence in Electronics  

It is a strategy where manufacturers design products with a limited lifespan to push consumers to buy replacements sooner. In electronics, this happens in several ways:

• Hardware limitations: Companies use cheaper materials or reduce metal content (e.g., less copper in appliances), making devices prone to failure.
• Software restrictions: Manufacturers stop providing software updates for older devices, resulting in slow or incompatible with new apps.
• Repair barriers: Companies restrict access to spare parts, tools, or repair manuals, forcing consumers to depend on expensive authorized service centers or buy new products.

Must Read Articles: 

E-WASTE

Right to Repair Portal India 

Right To Repair

Source: 

THE HINDU