India's Sustainable Electronics Initiatives

In May 2025, the Indian government initiated measures to enhance sustainable electronics through the adoption of a Repairability Index. This index categorizes mobile phones and appliances based on their repairability, availability of spare parts, and software support. Additionally, new e-waste regulations now mandate minimum payments to encourage formal recycling practices.

Key Highlights:

• Repairability Index: Aims to evaluate and rank electronic products based on their repair potential, thereby promoting sustainability.

• E-Waste Production: India produced over 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste in 2021-22, making it the third largest producer globally.

• Legislative Frameworks:

  • E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022: Introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), mandating manufacturers to manage product disposal after use.
  • Right to Repair Framework: Established by the Department of Consumer Affairs in 2022, with a supportive national portal launched in 2023.

• Cultural Significance of Repair: As India progresses towards viewing repair as a consumer right, there is a recognition of repair knowledge as a valuable cultural resource. Informal repairers, often unnoticed, contribute substantially to the economy and technological resilience.

• Invisibility of the Repair Sector: There has been an increasing shift towards disposability and less repairable products, sidelining informal repairers and their significant tacit knowledge in maintenance and repair.

• Right to Repair Movement: Like the European Union’s recent initiatives urging manufacturers to facilitate access to spare parts, India's policies aim to empower consumers and promote circular economy practices.

Challenges Identified:

• Lack of Support for Informal Repairers: Current skilling programs like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) focus primarily on industrial training, often neglecting the nuanced skills required in repair work which cannot be easily formalized.

• Design Constraints: According to a 2023 report, only 23% of smartphones sold in Asia are designed to be easily repairable, indicating a significant barrier to sustainability.

• Policymaking Gaps: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, while promoting experiential learning, lacks specific directives to preserve the knowledge associated with hands-on repair expertise.

Policy Recommendations:

1. Embed Repairability into Policy: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology should incorporate repairability standards into AI and product procurement policies.

2. Enhance the Right to Repair Framework: The Department of Consumer Affairs can expand existing frameworks to facilitate greater community involvement and product classification.

3. Formal Recognition of Informal Repairers: Platforms like e-Shram can be leveraged to connect informal repair technicians to social protection and skill development opportunities.

4. Training Programs for Informal Skills: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship should develop tailored training programs recognizing the tacit skills of informal repairers.

5. Support Repair Knowledge Transfer: Techniques like decision trees and Large Language Models can capture and disseminate repair knowledge while respecting local contexts.

Conclusion:

The advancement of India's digital and environmental sustainability efforts hinges on recognizing and supporting the crucial role of informal repairers. By acknowledging their contributions and integrating repairability into policy and product design, India can promote a more sustainable and equitable technological future. Preserving this intangible knowledge is crucial to maintain the adaptability and resilience of India's established repair economy amidst rapid technological change.

Published: August 04, 2025.
Author: Kinnari Gatare, Human Computer Interaction researcher and former UX Design Consultant, IIT Madras.