The Union IT ministry might direct all system makers within the coming weeks to make use of uniform charging ports, mentioned one of many three folks, all of whom spoke on situation of anonymity.
“USB-C or Sort C charging port might be made necessary for smartphones and tablets from June subsequent yr. Function telephones or primary telephones, hearables and wearables might be stored out for now,” the second individual added.
The push for the standard cable and charger for a number of gadgets, initiated by the European Union in 2022, goals to save lots of prices and cut back the rising digital waste.
For laptops, the USB-C port mandate will kick in from the top of 2026, the individual added, including the deadlines have been determined after discussions with the trade and producers. “India is adopting the identical requirements as EU, however giving six months’ further time to permit all gamers to make sure compliance,” the primary individual mentioned.
The proposal follows an analogous playbook adopted by the European Union, with the Union shopper affairs ministry recommending Sort-C ports for all gadgets. “All telephone makers might be legally certain to stick to the norms, and any flouting of those norms will appeal to penalties as per the Shopper Safety Act,” a 3rd individual mentioned. The IT ministry order might embody a clause for makers of primary telephones and different gadgets to voluntarily incorporate Sort C ports, the individual added.
The Sort C charging port connects with a Sort C cable which has the identical connector at each ends, so it may be plugged in from both facet. Whereas shoppers can save prices through the use of a single cable and charger for a number of gadgets, producers will even acquire as their provides and sourcing would change into streamlined to a single part versus a number of elements, particular to the charging port. The transfer will even assist sluggish the expansion of e-waste, the individual added.
Main phonemaker Xiaomi welcomed the event. “This can be a customer-centric and environmentally acutely aware transfer that reduces e-waste. With a single charger and cable, shoppers can conveniently energy a number of gadgets, decreasing the effort of carrying separate chargers. This uniform commonplace additionally streamlines service and restore processes for firms, eliminating problems arising from numerous charging interfaces,” mentioned Muralikrishnan B, president, Xiaomi India.
“Oppo India is aligned with the Indian authorities on introduction of uniform charging port for digital gadgets. This uniformity can cut back prices for shoppers and contribute in direction of curbing avoidable e-waste,” mentioned Savio D’Souza, director of product communications, Oppo India.
“E-waste administration aligns deeply with Oppo India’s inexperienced initiatives. As customers discard fewer incompatible chargers, the quantity of e-waste coming into landfills decreases, which mitigates the dangerous results on our ecosystems. Standardisation additionally results in extra environment friendly recycling processes, as fewer varieties of supplies should be sorted and processed,” D’Souza added.
Queries emailed to spokespersons of the IT and shopper affairs ministries, in addition to system makers Vivo, Samsung, Apple, and the India Mobile and Electronics Affiliation (ICEA) remained unanswered.
“This step was lengthy overdue. It was being mentioned on the highest stage internationally for greater than a decade. It’s a matter of aid that every one cell producers have agreed to have a uniform cell charger,” mentioned Ashim Sanyal, CEO of Shopper VOICE, a non-government group.
“When the world is coping with an e-waste disaster, switching to a uniform cell charger will assist in slicing e-waste. It would additionally assist firms in slicing prices moreover decreasing the burden on shoppers of shopping for chargers together with cell phones,” Sanyal added.
“At present, gadgets use varied charging ports, requiring separate chargers for every, making administration and upkeep problematic. The federal government’s transfer will cut back the necessity to produce extreme chargers and cables, addressing environmental issues about recycling,” mentioned Dr. Suneel Pandey, director of round financial system and waste administration at The Vitality and Sources Institute (TERI).
“Typically, the system is on the finish of its life, however the charger remains to be purposeful and can be utilized. This may minimize down on pointless waste era,” Pandey added.
