Why in News

• India accepted a proposal to introduce a Repairability Index for electronics, marking a step towards making the Right to Repair a consumer right

• Experts caution that India’s informal repair economy, based on tacit and generational knowledge, is being overlooked in digital and AI policy frameworks

About Right to Repair in India

Definition

• The Right to Repair refers to the legal right of consumers to:

  • Repair and modify their products

  • Access affordable third-party repair services

Global Trend

• The European Union mandates:

  • Access to spare parts

  • Availability of repair manuals for consumers

• Several states in the US and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12:

  • Support repair-based sustainability practices

Indian Framework

• The Department of Consumer Affairs launched a Right to Repair Portal in 2023

  • Covers sectors like electronics, automobiles, and agricultural tools

Why Repair Must Be More Than a Consumer Right

Tacit Knowledge Economy

• Informal repairers gain skills through:

  • Observation

  • Mentorship

  • Hands-on experience

• Not dependent on formal certifications

• Examples:

  • Karol Bagh in Delhi

  • Ritchie Street in Chennai

Sustainability through Resourcefulness (Jugaad)

• Repair culture:

  • Extends product lifespan

  • Reduces electronic waste

  • Reflects India’s culture of frugality and innovation

Unorganised but Essential Workforce

• Informal repairers:

  • Are left out of formal labour policies

  • Still play a key role in India’s circular economy

Cultural Identity of Repair

• Local repair practices:

  • Showcase India’s indigenous tech heritage

  • Feature region-specific innovations

Loss of Repair Literacy

• Increasing use of:

  • Disposable goods

  • Sealed product designs

• Threatens:

  • Traditional repair knowledge

  • Reuse culture

Gaps in Digital and Policy Frameworks

Electronic Waste (Management) Rules 2022

• Focus is mostly on recycling

• Does not promote repair as the first step to tackle electronic waste

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• Training programs are:

  • Rigid in structure

  • Unsuitable for the flexible, diagnostic nature of repair work

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Public Infrastructure

• Current policies:

  • Focus on structured data systems

  • Ignore informal, human-led repair knowledge

National Education Policy 2020

• Promotes experiential learning

• But does not recognize repair skills as part of vocational education

Lack of Legal Support for Repairers

• Informal repairers:

  • Have no legal rights

  • Lack certification pathways

  • Are unrecognized in the digital economy

Steps for an Inclusive and Sustainable Repair Ecosystem

AI and Digital Public Infrastructure Standards

• Integrate repairability norms into:

  • AI tools

  • Hardware standards

  • Public procurement policies

Expanded Right to Repair Framework

• Classify products based on repairability

• Ensure:

  • Access to parts

  • Availability of repair manuals

  • Support for community-based repair hubs

Recognition and Skill Development

• Use platforms like e-Shram to:

  • Recognize informal repairers

  • Reskill them with customized training modules

Knowledge Preservation

• Use AI models and decision trees to:

  • Digitize tacit repair knowledge

  • Make insights widely accessible

Policy Convergence

• Coordinate efforts of:

  • Ministry of Labour and Employment

  • Ministry of Electronics and IT

  • Ministry of Rural Development

• Build a unified policy framework that values repair as labour and knowledge

Significance for India’s Development

Sustainability and SDGs

• Supports:

  • Sustainable Development Goal 12

  • Mission Lifestyle for Environment

• Helps:

  • Extend product lifespan

  • Reduce waste

Labour Empowerment

• Acknowledges:

  • Informal repairers as skilled workers

  • Their role in economic and tech resilience

Digital Justice

• Ensures that:

  • AI and digital growth includes human-led repair knowledge

Economic Inclusion

• Bridges:

  • India’s digital vision and grassroots innovations

  • Improves livelihood security

Leadership in Circular Economy

• Positions India as:

  • A global leader in sustainability by embedding repair into the economy

Conclusion

• Repair should be recognized as both a right and a responsibility in India’s digital shift

• Policies must include tacit knowledge from informal repair workers for inclusivity and sustainability

• As Michael Polanyi said, “We know more than we can tell.”

• India must preserve and value its repair wisdom before it disappears