Context: Recently, the Department of Consumer Affairs announced that a report for a “Framework on Repairability Index (RI) in Mobile and Electronic Sector” had been submitted to the government.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Right to Repair Movement in India; Repairability Index.
Framework on Repairability Index (RI) in Mobile and Electronic Sector
- Under the Repairability Index, consumer electronics and electronic appliances would be assigned a score depending on how easy they are to repair.
- This will be done by evaluating products under criteria- availability of spare parts, cost of repair, software updates, and availability of information.
Right to Repair Movement in India:
- Right to Repair refers to the right of end users to repair devices they own or service without any manufacturer or technical restrictions. It will give consumers a chance to repair their products at an optimal cost instead of buying new products altogether.
- The Union government had set up the Nidhi Khare Committee in 2022 to develop a comprehensive framework on the Right to Repair. The sectors identified include Farming Equipment, Mobile Phones/ Tablets, Consumer Durables and Automobiles/Automobile Equipment.
- India's Department of Consumer Affairs launched the Right to Repair Portal in December 2022. In the Portal, the companies will provide information on self-repair manuals, authorised & third-party repairers for companies and products.
Significance:
Prolonging the life of an appliance ties into other priorities, like-
- Promoting e-waste recycling (circular economy- where parts and metals go back into a value chain, a long-held but inadequately achieved aim)
- Regulating the demand for “virgin” metals that have been freshly mined. India is a net importer of metals, and has an increasing pressure to maintain existing electronic products.
- End-consumer benefit of having longer-lasting products, or at least products that can be repaired cheaply and quickly.
- Serve as a catalyst for employment generation by allowing third-party repairs.
Also Read: Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing Pilot Initiative (ERSO)
The aim of developing a framework on Right to Repair in India is to empower consumers, harmonise trade between the original equipment manufacturers and the third-party buyers and sellers and emphasise on sustainable consumption of products and reduction in e-waste.