Repairablity Index of phones, tablets on the anvil

In the wake consumers facing issues in repair of smartphones and tablets, a committee constituted by the government has recommended that original equipment manufacturers should self-declare Repairability Index  to enable customers make informed choice.

The Department of Consumer Affairs on Saturday said that the Committee constituted for the Framework on Repairability Index (RI) in Mobile and Electronic Sector has submitted its report to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. 

“The committee’s recommendations have been framed in alignment with the best global practices without causing any impediment to the industry with regard to innovation and ease of doing business. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are required to self-declare the Repairability Index based on a standards scoring criteria provided in the framework with no additional compliance burden,” the statement added. 

The committee has also  recommended that the Repairability Index should be displayed at the point of sale or purchase, e-commerce platforms and in form of QR code on packaged products.

Empowering consumers

“By empowering consumers with ease and hassle-free repair options, the Department of Consumer Affairs is reaffirming its commitment to a self-reliant, sustainable, and consumer-friendly economy,” it added. 

DoCA said it has seen significant rise in number of complaints in Mobiles and Tablets product category from 19,057 in 2022-2023 to 22,864 in 2024-2025, which also highlighted a pressing need to improve repair accessibility and ensure greater transparency of repair and post-sale service-related information to consumers.

Published on May 3, 2025