Latest news with #RepairabilityIndex
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
The ‘right to repair' must include the ‘right to remember'
In May 2025, the Indian government took a significant step toward promoting sustainable electronics. It accepted a report proposing a Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances, ranking products based on ease of repair, spare part access, and software support. New e-waste policies now include minimum payments to incentivise formal recycling. These are timely moves. But as India takes steps toward making repair a consumer right, we must also treat it as a cultural and intellectual resource — a form of knowledge that deserves preservation and support. India's digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy landscape is evolving rapidly. Initiatives such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (NSAI) emphasise innovation, data-driven governance and economic efficiency. Yet, the systems that quietly sustain everyday life — especially the informal repair and maintenance economy — remain largely invisible in digital and policy frameworks. In an age of cloud backups and algorithmic processing, it is easy to forget the value of knowledge that cannot be codified. Much of India's repair expertise lives in muscle memory, quiet observation, and years of hands-on improvisation. This tacit knowledge is vital to India's material resilience. From mobile fixers in Delhi's Karol Bagh to appliance technicians in Chennai's Ritchie Street, repairers keep devices working well past their planned obsolescence. 'If we don't fix it, who will?' says a mobile repairer in Ritchie Street. 'People throw things out. But we see what can be made new.' Their tools may be modest and their workshops discreet, but their work reflects deep ingenuity. They restore devices not by consulting manuals, but by diagnosing faults through sensory cues, reusing components, and adapting creatively to constraints. Yet, this ecosystem is gradually eroding. As product designs become less repairable and consumer habits shift toward disposability, informal repairers find themselves increasingly locked out of markets, of skilling programmes, and of policy attention. What risks being lost is not only economic opportunity but also a vast, undocumented reservoir of knowledge that has long supported India's technological resilience. Also Read | India's rising e-waste, the need to recast its management Why tacit knowledge matters 'I learnt by watching my uncle,' says an appliance repairer in Bhopal. 'He never explained with words. He just showed me once, and expected me to try. That's how we pass it on.' Tacit knowledge refers to forms of skill and intuition that are difficult to formalise. In India's repair economy, this expertise is typically passed down through mentorship, observation, and repetition — not through formal training or certification. It is inherently adaptive and context-sensitive, qualities that structured digital systems, including AI, often struggle to replicate. As AI advances, it increasingly draws on insights shaped by this kind of labour. However, mechanisms to acknowledge or equitably involve the contributors of this knowledge are still evolving. The result is a growing imbalance: AI systems continue to improve, while the communities enabling that learning often remain unrecognised. Globally, the Right to Repair movement has gained momentum. The European Union recently introduced rules requiring manufacturers to provide access to spare parts and repair documentation. In India, the Department of Consumer Affairs launched a Right to Repair framework in 2022, followed by a national portal in 2023 covering electronics, automobiles, and farm equipment. Meanwhile, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 promotes repair as part of responsible consumption. India now has the opportunity to lead by recognising repair not just as a service but also as a form of knowledge work. The blind spot in India's digital policy In 2021-22, India generated over 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste, becoming the world's third-largest producer. The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) — a principle that makes manufacturers responsible for post-use product management. However, while these rules encourage recycling, they make only a passing mention of repair as a preventive strategy. National skilling programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) focus on short-term certifications for formal industrial roles. Repair work, which requires improvisation, diagnostic skill and creative reuse does not easily fit this framework. Similarly, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 celebrates Indian knowledge traditions and experiential learning but offers little guidance on how to support or transmit hands-on repair expertise. Campaigns such as Mission LiFE (LiFEStyle For Environment) promote repair and reuse, but complementary efforts are needed to support the workers who make such sustainability practices possible. While policies now champion circularity, they risk leaving behind the very workforce whose skills make it real. As sustainability becomes a national priority, policymakers and technologists are reconsidering how we design, discard, and extend the life of everyday products. One emerging idea in research is 'unmaking' — the process of taking apart, repairing or repurposing devices after their first use, revealing design flaws and opportunities for reuse. Breakdowns and repairs are not failures; they are feedback loops and sources of practical insight. A discarded circuit board can become a teaching tool. A salvaged phone part can restore someone's access to work or school. A broken appliance can be repaired and reused. Informal repairers perform this work daily. Their labour sits at the centre of the circular economy, where reuse is not an afterthought but a design principle. Recognising them as stewards of sustainability — not marginal figures — can reshape how we think about environmental and digital innovation alike. AI-enabled solutions for repair justice India's culture of jugaad and frugality long pre-dates today's tech-forward policies. Repairers have always adapted across devices and decades, with minimal support. As the country invests in AI infrastructure and digital public goods, it must align these ambitions with the ground realities of repair. Most modern gadgets are built for compactness and control, not repair. According to a 2023 iFixit global report, only 23% of smartphones sold in Asia are easily repairable due to design constraints. To change this, design norms and procurement policies must include repairability from the start. To make technology genuinely sustainable, public policy must consider not only how products are manufactured and used but also how they break down, are repaired, and find new life. A shift toward designing for 'unmaking', where disassembly and repair are anticipated from the outset, should inform both hardware standards and AI-integrated systems. This transition will require coordinated institutional action. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology can embed repairability criteria into AI and procurement policies. The Department of Consumer Affairs could expand the Right to Repair framework to include product classification and community involvement. Platforms such as e-Shram, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, can formally recognise informal repairers and connect them to social protection and skill-building schemes. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship can consider training programmes to account for the tacit, diagnostic nature of repair work, which does not conform to standardised industrial templates. To support this, decision trees can help codify typical repair pathways, while Large Language Models can capture, summarise, and translate tacit repair narratives into structured, shareable knowledge, enabling broader learning without stripping local context or expertise. Supporting this ecosystem is not merely a question of intellectual property or technical efficiency. It is about valuing the quiet, embodied labour that sustains our digital and material lives — an essential step toward a just, repair-ready technological future. As philosopher Michael Polanyi observed, 'We know more than we can tell.' By choosing to remember what cannot be digitised, we preserve the human wisdom essential to a meaningful technological future. Kinnari Gatare is a researcher in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and a former UX Design Consultant, National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Canberra Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Canberra Times
Our approach to products is so destructive. In many respects we're devouring the future
France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021, they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them. Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life.
The Advertiser
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Our approach to products is so destructive. In many respects we're devouring the future
My father Ian Kiernan used to say he'd like Australia to be the cleanest country on earth. That is my aspiration, too. It's certainly possible but first we need to change our mindset to encourage more Australians to adjust their spending and shopping habits - from "take, make, waste" to re-use and repair. This isn't just about the environment - it's about fairness. It's about extending the life of our products, saving money, and reducing pressure on households during a cost-of-living crunch. We need to guide, inspire and empower our communities to make more sustainable choices. Our approach to materials and products in the western world is so destructive. It's a linear approach where materials are extracted from the Earth, made into products, and eventually thrown away. In many respects we're devouring the future. In Australia, CSIRO reports that our circularity rate is sitting at 4 per cent, which is half the global average. That means that only 4 per cent of what we consume is not a virgin resource. We are also the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita. Repairability is a key solution to reducing waste, but one that Australia continues to fall behind on. It ensures products can remain in use for as long as possible - keeping them out of landfill. Repair is an obvious "first responder" when it comes to waste prevention and having control over the products we buy and use, from computers, kettles and toasters to furniture, clothing and agricultural equipment. France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021, they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them. Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life. Wales is another superb example of a country which is excelling in circular economy achievement, thanks to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up action. Repair Cafes have taken off in Welsh communities, and the Welsh Benthyg Cymru - Library of Things - are prevalent around the country. In the same year that France introduced the index, the Australian Productivity Commission released a report on the "Right to Repair", identifying significant barriers to repair and recommending comprehensive reforms to enhance consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and promote competition in repair markets. Four years on and not one of the recommendations from the report have come to fruition. Clean Up Australia strongly advocates for the right to repair products and equipment, including access to parts, manuals, tools, software and extended warranties. It's part of living an independent and sustainable life - being able to mend, fix and extend the life of products we have. The Australian Repair Network has done a great job setting up an interactive map of community initiatives and repair cafes in Australia. But we still have a long way to go in this country. If we are to successfully transition to a more circular and sustainable future, with regulated waste, moving markets for recycled materials, and a flourishing culture of repair and reuse, an entire consciousness shift is needed. I am mindful that even the terminology circular economy may still not be known to the general public. On our 35th anniversary, I'd like to see increased community awareness to reduce wasteful consumerism and reliance on single-use, enhanced product design standards for longevity and repair, and continued investment in waste management infrastructure. To achieve this, collaboration across all levels of government, industry, brands, business, and the everyday Australian is required. It is encouraging that late last year, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese government's commitment to developing a general right to repair. With our Federal government sworn in and back to work, we're hoping to see that commitment enshrined in policy in the term to come. Australia can lead the way to develop new patterns of consumption that meet consumer expectations and reduce environmental impacts, while being affordable to the public and creating new business opportunities for brands and retailers. This year, more than 800,000 volunteers across the country pulled on their gloves and got to work removing litter from our precious environment. Our volunteers already put in the hard yards, but clean-ups alone cannot solve the mess we're in. It's time to begin fixing what's broken, before it becomes waste. Every Australian should feel inspired to have the cleanest country on earth. My father Ian Kiernan used to say he'd like Australia to be the cleanest country on earth. That is my aspiration, too. It's certainly possible but first we need to change our mindset to encourage more Australians to adjust their spending and shopping habits - from "take, make, waste" to re-use and repair. This isn't just about the environment - it's about fairness. It's about extending the life of our products, saving money, and reducing pressure on households during a cost-of-living crunch. We need to guide, inspire and empower our communities to make more sustainable choices. Our approach to materials and products in the western world is so destructive. It's a linear approach where materials are extracted from the Earth, made into products, and eventually thrown away. In many respects we're devouring the future. In Australia, CSIRO reports that our circularity rate is sitting at 4 per cent, which is half the global average. That means that only 4 per cent of what we consume is not a virgin resource. We are also the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita. Repairability is a key solution to reducing waste, but one that Australia continues to fall behind on. It ensures products can remain in use for as long as possible - keeping them out of landfill. Repair is an obvious "first responder" when it comes to waste prevention and having control over the products we buy and use, from computers, kettles and toasters to furniture, clothing and agricultural equipment. France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021, they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them. Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life. Wales is another superb example of a country which is excelling in circular economy achievement, thanks to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up action. Repair Cafes have taken off in Welsh communities, and the Welsh Benthyg Cymru - Library of Things - are prevalent around the country. In the same year that France introduced the index, the Australian Productivity Commission released a report on the "Right to Repair", identifying significant barriers to repair and recommending comprehensive reforms to enhance consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and promote competition in repair markets. Four years on and not one of the recommendations from the report have come to fruition. Clean Up Australia strongly advocates for the right to repair products and equipment, including access to parts, manuals, tools, software and extended warranties. It's part of living an independent and sustainable life - being able to mend, fix and extend the life of products we have. The Australian Repair Network has done a great job setting up an interactive map of community initiatives and repair cafes in Australia. But we still have a long way to go in this country. If we are to successfully transition to a more circular and sustainable future, with regulated waste, moving markets for recycled materials, and a flourishing culture of repair and reuse, an entire consciousness shift is needed. I am mindful that even the terminology circular economy may still not be known to the general public. On our 35th anniversary, I'd like to see increased community awareness to reduce wasteful consumerism and reliance on single-use, enhanced product design standards for longevity and repair, and continued investment in waste management infrastructure. To achieve this, collaboration across all levels of government, industry, brands, business, and the everyday Australian is required. It is encouraging that late last year, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese government's commitment to developing a general right to repair. With our Federal government sworn in and back to work, we're hoping to see that commitment enshrined in policy in the term to come. Australia can lead the way to develop new patterns of consumption that meet consumer expectations and reduce environmental impacts, while being affordable to the public and creating new business opportunities for brands and retailers. This year, more than 800,000 volunteers across the country pulled on their gloves and got to work removing litter from our precious environment. Our volunteers already put in the hard yards, but clean-ups alone cannot solve the mess we're in. It's time to begin fixing what's broken, before it becomes waste. Every Australian should feel inspired to have the cleanest country on earth. My father Ian Kiernan used to say he'd like Australia to be the cleanest country on earth. That is my aspiration, too. It's certainly possible but first we need to change our mindset to encourage more Australians to adjust their spending and shopping habits - from "take, make, waste" to re-use and repair. This isn't just about the environment - it's about fairness. It's about extending the life of our products, saving money, and reducing pressure on households during a cost-of-living crunch. We need to guide, inspire and empower our communities to make more sustainable choices. Our approach to materials and products in the western world is so destructive. It's a linear approach where materials are extracted from the Earth, made into products, and eventually thrown away. In many respects we're devouring the future. In Australia, CSIRO reports that our circularity rate is sitting at 4 per cent, which is half the global average. That means that only 4 per cent of what we consume is not a virgin resource. We are also the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita. Repairability is a key solution to reducing waste, but one that Australia continues to fall behind on. It ensures products can remain in use for as long as possible - keeping them out of landfill. Repair is an obvious "first responder" when it comes to waste prevention and having control over the products we buy and use, from computers, kettles and toasters to furniture, clothing and agricultural equipment. France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021, they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them. Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life. Wales is another superb example of a country which is excelling in circular economy achievement, thanks to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up action. Repair Cafes have taken off in Welsh communities, and the Welsh Benthyg Cymru - Library of Things - are prevalent around the country. In the same year that France introduced the index, the Australian Productivity Commission released a report on the "Right to Repair", identifying significant barriers to repair and recommending comprehensive reforms to enhance consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and promote competition in repair markets. Four years on and not one of the recommendations from the report have come to fruition. Clean Up Australia strongly advocates for the right to repair products and equipment, including access to parts, manuals, tools, software and extended warranties. It's part of living an independent and sustainable life - being able to mend, fix and extend the life of products we have. The Australian Repair Network has done a great job setting up an interactive map of community initiatives and repair cafes in Australia. But we still have a long way to go in this country. If we are to successfully transition to a more circular and sustainable future, with regulated waste, moving markets for recycled materials, and a flourishing culture of repair and reuse, an entire consciousness shift is needed. I am mindful that even the terminology circular economy may still not be known to the general public. On our 35th anniversary, I'd like to see increased community awareness to reduce wasteful consumerism and reliance on single-use, enhanced product design standards for longevity and repair, and continued investment in waste management infrastructure. To achieve this, collaboration across all levels of government, industry, brands, business, and the everyday Australian is required. It is encouraging that late last year, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese government's commitment to developing a general right to repair. With our Federal government sworn in and back to work, we're hoping to see that commitment enshrined in policy in the term to come. Australia can lead the way to develop new patterns of consumption that meet consumer expectations and reduce environmental impacts, while being affordable to the public and creating new business opportunities for brands and retailers. This year, more than 800,000 volunteers across the country pulled on their gloves and got to work removing litter from our precious environment. Our volunteers already put in the hard yards, but clean-ups alone cannot solve the mess we're in. It's time to begin fixing what's broken, before it becomes waste. Every Australian should feel inspired to have the cleanest country on earth. My father Ian Kiernan used to say he'd like Australia to be the cleanest country on earth. That is my aspiration, too. It's certainly possible but first we need to change our mindset to encourage more Australians to adjust their spending and shopping habits - from "take, make, waste" to re-use and repair. This isn't just about the environment - it's about fairness. It's about extending the life of our products, saving money, and reducing pressure on households during a cost-of-living crunch. We need to guide, inspire and empower our communities to make more sustainable choices. Our approach to materials and products in the western world is so destructive. It's a linear approach where materials are extracted from the Earth, made into products, and eventually thrown away. In many respects we're devouring the future. In Australia, CSIRO reports that our circularity rate is sitting at 4 per cent, which is half the global average. That means that only 4 per cent of what we consume is not a virgin resource. We are also the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita. Repairability is a key solution to reducing waste, but one that Australia continues to fall behind on. It ensures products can remain in use for as long as possible - keeping them out of landfill. Repair is an obvious "first responder" when it comes to waste prevention and having control over the products we buy and use, from computers, kettles and toasters to furniture, clothing and agricultural equipment. France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021, they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them. Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life. Wales is another superb example of a country which is excelling in circular economy achievement, thanks to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up action. Repair Cafes have taken off in Welsh communities, and the Welsh Benthyg Cymru - Library of Things - are prevalent around the country. In the same year that France introduced the index, the Australian Productivity Commission released a report on the "Right to Repair", identifying significant barriers to repair and recommending comprehensive reforms to enhance consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and promote competition in repair markets. Four years on and not one of the recommendations from the report have come to fruition. Clean Up Australia strongly advocates for the right to repair products and equipment, including access to parts, manuals, tools, software and extended warranties. It's part of living an independent and sustainable life - being able to mend, fix and extend the life of products we have. The Australian Repair Network has done a great job setting up an interactive map of community initiatives and repair cafes in Australia. But we still have a long way to go in this country. If we are to successfully transition to a more circular and sustainable future, with regulated waste, moving markets for recycled materials, and a flourishing culture of repair and reuse, an entire consciousness shift is needed. I am mindful that even the terminology circular economy may still not be known to the general public. On our 35th anniversary, I'd like to see increased community awareness to reduce wasteful consumerism and reliance on single-use, enhanced product design standards for longevity and repair, and continued investment in waste management infrastructure. To achieve this, collaboration across all levels of government, industry, brands, business, and the everyday Australian is required. It is encouraging that late last year, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese government's commitment to developing a general right to repair. With our Federal government sworn in and back to work, we're hoping to see that commitment enshrined in policy in the term to come. Australia can lead the way to develop new patterns of consumption that meet consumer expectations and reduce environmental impacts, while being affordable to the public and creating new business opportunities for brands and retailers. This year, more than 800,000 volunteers across the country pulled on their gloves and got to work removing litter from our precious environment. Our volunteers already put in the hard yards, but clean-ups alone cannot solve the mess we're in. It's time to begin fixing what's broken, before it becomes waste. Every Australian should feel inspired to have the cleanest country on earth.
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Pip Kiernan: It's time to begin fixing what's broken before it becomes waste
My father Ian Kiernan used to say he'd like Australia to be the cleanest country on earth. That is my aspiration too. It's certainly possible but first we need to change our mindset to encourage more Australians to adjust their spending and shopping habits — from 'take, make, waste' to re-use and repair. This isn't just about the environment, it's about fairness. It's about extending the life of our products, saving money, and reducing pressure on households during a cost-of-living crunch. We need to guide, inspire and empower our communities to make more sustainable choices. Our approach to materials and products in the Western world is so destructive. It's a linear approach, where materials are extracted from the earth, made into products, and eventually thrown away. In many respects we're devouring the future. In Australia, CSIRO reports that our circularity rate is sitting at 4 per cent, which is half the global average. That means that only 4 per cent of what we consume is not a virgin resource. We are also the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita. Repairability is a key solution to reducing waste, but one that Australia continues to fall behind on. It ensures products can remain in use for as long as possible, keeping them out of landfill. Repair is an obvious 'first responder' when it comes to waste prevention and having control over the products we buy and use, from computers, kettles and toasters to furniture, clothing and agricultural equipment. France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021 they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them. Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life. Wales is another superb example of a country which is excelling in circular economy achievement, thanks to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up action. Repair cafes have taken off in Welsh communities, and the Welsh Benthyg Cymru (libraries of things) areprevalent around the country. In the same year that France introduced the index, the Australian Productivity Commission released a report on the right to repair, identifying significant barriers to repair and recommending comprehensive reforms to enhance consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and promote competition in repair markets. Four years on and not one of the recommendations from the report have come to fruition. Clean Up Australia strongly advocates for the right to repair products and equipment, including access to parts, manuals, tools, software and extended warranties. It's part of living an independent and sustainable life — being able to mend, fix and extend the life of products we have. The Australian Repair Network has done a great job setting up an interactive map of community initiatives and repair cafes in Australia. But we still have a long way to go in this country. If we are to successfully transition to a more circular and sustainable future, with regulated waste, moving markets for recycled materials, and a flourishing culture of repair and reuse, an entire consciousness shift is needed. I am mindful that even the terminology 'circular economy' may still not be known to the general public. On our 35th anniversary I'd like to see increased community awareness to reduce wasteful consumerism and reliance on single-use, enhanced product design standards for longevity and repair, and continued investment in waste management infrastructure. To achieve this, collaboration across all levels of government, industry, brands, business, and the everyday Australian is required. It is encouraging that late last year, the Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese Government's commitment to developing a general right to repair. With our Federal Government sworn in and back to work, we're hoping to see that commitment enshrined in policy in the term to come. Australia can lead the way to develop new patterns of consumption that meet consumer expectations and reduce environmental impacts, while being affordable to the public and creating new business opportunities for brands and retailers. This year, more than 800,000 volunteers across the country pulled on their gloves and got to work removing litter from our precious environment. Our volunteers already put in the hard yards, but Clean Ups alone cannot solve the mess we're in. It's time to begin fixing what's broken, before it becomes waste. Pip Kiernan is the chairwoman of Clean Up Australia
Deccan Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Making device repairs cool again
A parliamentary committee recently proposed a Repairability Index focusing on electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The intent is to promote informed purchasing decisions by consumers about the repairability of these devices. The initiative has the potential to enhance the circular economy and complement India's efforts to establish a manufacturing base in per this regime, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) must self-declare the Repairability Index on a five-point scale based on standardised scoring criteria. This information should be displayed at the point of sale/purchase to enable consumers to make informed choices. Smartphones and tablets are the first products that are expected to comply with the new committee working on the index has identified priority parts for smartphones and tablets that are most prone to failure, such as the battery, display assembly, and camera assembly. Repairability is assessed for each of these parts based on six core parameters: disassembly depth, repair information, timely availability of spare parts, software updates, tools, and fasteners. The overall index for the device is a weighted aggregate of the repairability of its index is a light-touch policy instrument that does not require heavy government resources to enforce. It relies on manufacturers' self-declaration and imposes no additional compliance requirements on them. Consumers typically have less information about the repairability of devices, and this index seeks to provide them with the necessary often have a near-monopoly on repairs by restricting access to parts, tools, and information necessary for repairs. This limitation reduces consumer choice, increases costs, and contributes to e-waste. If you have ever wondered why replacing a cracked screen on a phone costs almost as much as buying a new one, you have experienced this issue regime is expected to boost the 'right to repair' which originated as a grassroots movement against manufacturer-imposed restrictions on repairing vehicles such as cars and tractors. Eventually, it grew to encompass the idea that hardware owners must be able to fix what they the movement had started as one about the user's property rights and their freedom to make changes to the things they own, it has expanded to include ideas of sustainability, local economic activity, and anti-monopolistic and are four distinct perspectives from which to view this development. First, will there be market demand for repairable products? Repairability might come at the cost of aesthetics or functionality, like water resistance. Brands have spent decades trying to create the consumer behaviour of frequent upgrades, and rewiring this behaviour will not be easy. Second, if this works well, we should see the development of a new circular economy over time. Repair services tend to be localised in nature, so this could lead to the creation of an entire category of businesses and jobs. Over time, this may lead to moving up the value chain, with new manufacturing and design capabilities also this is a good move from a sustainability perspective. India is the third-largest generator of e-waste behind the US and China. A key driver of e-waste is the consumption of electronic devices, and as per-capita income and consumption grow, this will only worsen. Lastly, for manufacturers, the primary concern is that IP will be at risk, particularly since Indian protection for copyright and IP is weak. The job of ensuring credibility and policing fakes could end up falling on intermediaries such as retailers, which imposes unnecessary economic costs..A repairability index is a good first step that can drive real change with minimal regulatory overhead. While there may be concerns about the voluntary nature of this reporting and the incentives for manufacturers to overstate their capabilities, these concerns will be alleviated as consumers adopt the index and vote with their creating an index alone will not be enough. It needs to be complemented by awareness campaigns that can steer people into considering repair over upgrade wherever possible. Making repairs viable again may be key to switching consumer on the success of this idea, policymakers should ensure that manufacturing schemes like PLI, especially in consumer electronics, eventually focus on supporting manufacturers who make upgradeable and repairable devices. Other jurisdictions like the EU, the UK and the US have already passed regulations focusing on the right to repair and mandate that manufacturers support this right with spares and repair services. This provides an excellent opportunity for India to become the preferred destination for firms to manufacture such products..(The writers are researchers with the high-tech geopolitics programme at the Takshashila Institution)
