The Indian government has confirmed that it will set up an expert group to consider the use of universal chargers for portable electronic products. These chargers will also be used to charge smartphones. Indian Consumer Affairs Minister Rohit Kumar Singh made the announcement and raised concerns about e-waste. Additionally, Singh revealed that industry stakeholders want discussions to move to universal chargers. Notably, EU policy directs all smartphones and portable devices to switch to USB Type-C. However, the Indian government is considering the possibility of mandating the use of two types of chargers, which would include USB Type-C. Different devices use special chargers provided or recommended by the manufacturer. For example, the official Nintendo support account in July urged users to avoid using smartphone cable chargers to charge the Switch.
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India is yet to reach a decision on universal chargers
The final decision of the Indian government will be the result of its discussions with stakeholders. In Singh’s view, this is a “complex issue”. Since India plays a vital role in the manufacture of chargers, it is important to know your views. Furthermore, Singh explains that the government will make the final decision from the perspective of manufacturers, users, industry and the environment. In addition, the panel will explore the different perspectives of each stakeholder.
Leading phone makers have come under fire for not including chargers in the box. Now, India is considering a universal charging port for all devices. According to News 18, the government met with industry stakeholders in August. During the meeting, the government will discuss stopping the use of different chargers to reduce e-waste. The target is to opt for universal chargers.
This will be similar to the EU authorization announcement. Under the mandate, phone makers must start shipping devices with USB Type-C ports starting in 2024. In June, the European Union reached an interim agreement on a unified charger. The legislation would force all future smartphones, including Apple’s iPhone, to use a common USB Type-C port for charging. In addition to cell phones, these rules also apply to other electronic devices, including tablets, digital cameras and e-readers. In addition to agreeing to use a common charging interface, the EU is also harmonizing fast charging standards.
