Consumers will soon be able to access repair guidelines, costs and technical manuals of a variety of gadgets, electronics and home appliances through a unified national portal, which will include leading technology brands, said a senior official aware of the matter.
The single point portal will effectively implement the Consumer Department’s “Right to Repair” policy announced in July, ensuring consumers and service providers have easy access to repair and maintenance information, including software and hardware.
The Consumer Ministry has written to 23 leading consumer electronics companies such as Samsung, LG and Phillips to provide brand manuals, repair fees, service centers and overhaul costs, which will be accessible on the unified portal, the official said.
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When technical products falter, most consumers replace them with newer ones because it is difficult to reliably repair faulty devices. Often manufacturers do not disclose full maintenance information, forcing consumers to buy new replacement parts.
The European Union is also in the process of enabling a right to repair for the repair of faulty devices in order to curb a growing global junkyard for discarded devices and promote sustainability in the technology sector.
The goal of the new Right to Repair framework in India is to empower consumers and product buyers in the local market, the official said. In addition, trade between original equipment manufacturers and third-party buyers and sellers is to be harmonised.
“Agricultural equipment, cell phones, tablets, consumer durables and automobiles, automotive equipment are among the sectors identified by the Right to Repair Committee,” the official quoted above said.
“Once launched in India it will both be a game changer for product sustainability and serve as a catalyst for job creation by Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Sufficient India) by enabling third party repairs. ‘ said the officer.
The committee designing the framework felt companies should provide complete knowledge and access to manuals, schematics and software updates, the official said. “Software licenses should not limit the transparency of the product being sold. The parts and tools to maintain equipment, including diagnostic tools, should be made available to third parties, including individuals, so that the product can be repaired in the event of minor malfunctions.”
The Right to Repair initiative could change the tech maintenance landscape and reduce the cost of faulty devices. Unlike an automaker, cell phone companies often don’t offer original repair options, forcing consumers to fully replace failed parts or make a new purchase. This could change with an enforceable right to repair.
“In the West, this is an ongoing battle between companies and consumer rights activists, with governments becoming increasingly sensitive to the demand for reliable repairs rather than just replacing defective parts,” said Sajid Ali of the Internet Consumers’ Forum Banglarore-based NGO .
