Why in the News?

The Committee formed to design India’s Repairability Index (RI) framework has submitted its report to Department of Consumer Affairs.

About Repairability Index (RI):

The RI is a standardized label that indicates how easily a product can be repaired by assessing multiple parameters.
It is designed to empower consumers to make informed decisions and promote sustainable consumption.
The RI is applicable initially to smartphones and tablets and uses a 5-point numeric scale for scoring.
The six key parameters used to calculate RI are:

The scoring covers priority components such as battery, display, cameras, charging port, microphone, speaker, and hinge mechanism.
RI labels must be displayed at the point of sale, on e-commerce platforms, and via QR code on packaging.

The RI framework must align with global best practices while maintaining ease of doing business for manufacturers.
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will self-declare RI scores based on standard criteria, with no extra compliance burden.
A clear scoring methodology has been developed, with weightages assigned to each parameter for key parts.
The committee identified smartphones and tablets as the initial focus under the RI framework.
Stakeholder consultations included manufacturers, consumer groups, academic bodies, and government departments.
The framework complements the existing Right to Repair Portal (launched in 2022), which provides repair-related information across four sectors.
The committee emphasized the need for a robust post-sale ecosystem for both urban and rural consumers.

[UPSC 2021] R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of:

Options: (a) environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry*

(b) ecological management of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention

(d) ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ in the exploitation of natural resources