Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh announced on Wednesday that India will switch to a USB type C charging port for all smart gadgets after stakeholders reached an agreement at a meeting of an inter-ministerial task force established by the Union government.
It was previously reported in August that India was considering requiring an universal charger for all consumer electronics. Despite initially stating that it would just investigate the feasibility of such a law, it appears the government is now moving forward with its proposal.
Wide-ranging consultations are being held by the government in preparation for the transition to two standard chargers: one for low-cost feature phones and another for all compatible devices. Universal universal chargers for mobile devices will simplify things for consumers while reducing the enormous amounts of e-waste produced in the nation.
An ASSOCHAM-EY paper titled "Electronic Waste Management in India" estimates that India generated 5 million tonnes of e-waste in 2021, placing it third behind China and the US.
“During the meeting, a broad consensus emerged among stakeholders on the adoption of Type-C as a charging port for electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. Further, it was deliberated that a different charging port may be adopted for feature phones,” Singh added.
iPhone and Android consumers' complaints about needing to use different chargers for their devices were the catalyst for the adjustment. The single charger is expected to save consumers roughly €250 million (Rs 2,112 crore), according to the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU. Officials anticipate that with a policy for standard universal chargers, phone manufacturers will no longer need to include chargers in the box because consumers will already have the necessary chargers and charging accessories, which will further assist them in cutting costs.
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