Three months after the EU, the Centre had introduced that cell phone makers and know-how corporations in India can have to undertake USB Type-C as the usual charging port by March 2025. (Image: Reuters/File)
India is probably going to quickly undertake suggestions of a client affairs committee on widespread charging ports – comparable to the European Union – by June 2025
Nine out of 10 customers have supported the central authorities’s transfer to standardise charging cables for smartphones and tablets, just like the European Union, as they really feel this can assist drive costs decrease and make branded charging cables extra reasonably priced. A survey confirmed that seven out of 10 folks additionally really feel that totally different chargers for various gadgets allow corporations to promote extra equipment.
India is probably going to quickly undertake suggestions of a client affairs committee on widespread charging ports – comparable to the European Union – by June 2025. The suggestions have been forwarded to the ministry of electronics and data know-how, which is probably going to notify the framework quickly as per studies. Three months after the EU, the buyer affairs ministry had introduced that cellular machine makers and know-how corporations in India can have to undertake USB Type-C as the usual charging port for his or her merchandise by March 2025.
To perceive client suggestions on this, social media group platform LocalCircles performed a nationwide survey asking customers why they suppose that smartphone and pill makers have totally different charging cables for various gadgets. The survey additionally tried to perceive if there’s a want for the federal government to introduce uniformity in charging cables.
A majority of the customers really feel that makers of smartphones and devices have totally different charging cables to maximise sale of equipment and due to lack of authorities requirements. The survey requested family customers why they thought smartphones and pill makers had totally different charging cables for various gadgets. At least 32 p.c of them mentioned this was executed to “maximise sales of accessories”, 6 p.c mentioned “consumer convenience and standards thinking is missing”, 13 p.c mentioned it was due to “lack of government standards” whereas 38 p.c suppose all of these causes contributed.
The survey additionally requested family customers how these cables ought to be standardised. A majority – 78 p.c – mentioned all smartphones and tablets ought to have the identical USB charging cable regardless of the corporate. Only 6 p.c of customers felt that the present system was fantastic, the place totally different gadgets have totally different charging cables.
At least 91 p.c of the customers surveyed help the federal government transfer to standardise chargers for various gadgets. This exhibits {that a} majority of Indian customers are sad that there are totally different charging cables for various gadgets like smartphones and tablets, and imagine that manufacturers do that to improve gross sales of equipment.
A majority of customers additionally find yourself shopping for generic charging cables because the branded ones are priced excessive. While some of these cables carry out effectively, there are additionally counterfeit ones rampantly out there in markets and on-line, and are harmful to use. The media has repeatedly reported how pretend chargers explode or mild up. Many of them, over time, trigger harm to the cellular machine as effectively.
What do the EU goals say?
With the target to cut back the quantity of chargers per family, in order to minimise the quantity of e-waste generated, the EU has directed that each one smartphones, together with iPhones, offered in member states ought to include a typical USB Type C charger from December 28, 2024. Laptop makers have been given time until 2026 to comply.
While over 98 p.c Android smartphones use USB Type C as a charging port, iPhones depend on proprietary lightning ports. Type C is a cable and port customary set by the USB Implementers Forum, a world nonprofit organisation, created to promote and keep specs of the common serial bus.
