Right to Repair

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance| Sustainable development

Why in news?

Recently, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) received a report for a Framework on Repairability Index (RI) in Mobile and Electronic Sector.

• The right to repair – It refers to empowerment of consumers to have control over the reparability of a consumer goods.
• It allows end users, consumers as well as businesses, to repair devices they own or service without any manufacturer or technical restrictions.
• Origin - It originated in United States, where Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act of 2012 compelled manufacturers to release information that needed to repair vehicles.
• Significance – It enables Democratization of repairability of consumer goods.
• It reduces the E – waste by promoting sustainable use of electronic goods.
• It promotes e-waste recycling and creating a circular economy for parts and metals.
• It increases accountability on manufacturers to provoide quality products.
• Repairability Index (RI) – It was developed by Department of Consumer Affairs.
• The RI will categories electronic products based on criteria including,
  • Availability of spare parts
  • Cost of repair
  • Software updates
  • Availability of information

Reference

The Hindu| Right to Repair in India