Smartphone and tablet users in India can soon gain more clarity on the fact that thanks to a new government -supported scheme, how easy it is to repair their equipment. A special committee constituted by the Department of Consumer Affairs has proposed that all phones and tablet manufacturers need to self-determine for a repairable index for their products. This score will help buyers to make better decisions while purchasing, especially many consumers struggle to repair their equipment when they are out of warranty or damaged. The objective is to promote responsible consumption and reduce electronic waste by making repair easier and more transparent.

The Repairability Index will give a rating to each device, which is on the basis of how simple it is, access to spare parts, repair information, software updates and access to other factors. Manufacturers must clearly display this score clearly on product packaging, on retail stores and on e-commerce listing. In this way, consumers can see if a device is easy or it is difficult to fix before deciding to buy it.

The committee headed by Additional Secretary Bharat Khera presented its report to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. The panel was established in September 2024 and included representatives of major technical companies such as Apple, Samsung, Google, Vivo, Dell, HP and HMD Mobiles. It also has members of major industry bodies like Icea and Mait, as well as officers of consumer rights organizations, academics and scientific bodies such as Indian Standards (BIS) and National Test House (NTH).

A proposal has come in response to rising consumer complaints. Data from the National Consumer Helpline shows that complaints related to mobile and tablet in 2022-2023 increased from 19,057 to 22,864 in 2024-2025. Many of these complaints are related to poor access to repair and lack of post -sales support. The department hopes that starting a repairable index will push brands to improve service quality and reduce the need for initial device replacement.

According to the official statement, “Original tool manufacturers (OEMS) need to self-display the repairable index based on the criteria scoring criteria provided in the framework with no additional compliance burden.”

The committee has identified 11 major parts which are commonly including battery, display assembly, cameras, charging ports, microphones, speakers and folding mechanisms in foldable devices. These parts will be evaluated using six major parameters: disassembly depth, availability of repair equipment, additional part access, availability of repair information, fastener type, and software updated support.

The scoring system will combine the weightage from each of these areas to produce the final rating on the five-point scale. The government says that the goal is to create “a ecosystem where consumers choose options that align with the ethos of ‘Mindful Utilization’ of their products on ‘useless consumption’.”

Consumer Affairs Secretary Raw Khare is now reviewing the report, and the ministry is expected to issue guidelines soon based on these recommendations. While the repairable index will initially apply only to smartphones and tablets, it can be expanded to other electronics in future stages.