“Right to Repair” in India: Towards Technological Justice and Sustainability
Relevant for: UPSC GS Paper 2 & 3 | Prelims + Mains | Ethics Case Studies
🧭 Context: Why in News?
In May 2025, the Indian government moved a step closer to recognising the Right to Repair by accepting a report proposing a Repairability Index for electronics like mobile phones and appliances.
This blog explores:
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The policy implications of Right to Repair in India
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Cultural and economic importance of repair work
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Its relevance in the context of AI, sustainability, and digital justice
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UPSC PYQs (Last 8 Years) and model questions for Mains
🔎 What is the Right to Repair?
The Right to Repair gives consumers the ability to:
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Repair and modify their products without manufacturer restrictions
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Access spare parts, tools, manuals, and diagnostic software
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Promote sustainability by reducing e-waste
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Ease of repair
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Access to spare parts
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Software support
📚 Relevance to UPSC Syllabus
| Paper | Topic |
|---|---|
| GS Paper 2 | Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors |
| GS Paper 3 | Environmental conservation, Sustainable development, Technology missions |
| GS Paper 4 | Ethics of consumer rights, inclusivity, recognition of informal labour |
🌱 Why Repair is More Than a Policy: It's Cultural Knowledge
"The Right to Repair must also include the Right to Remember."
Much of India’s repair work happens informally — by mobile fixers, appliance technicians — without manuals or formal training. This tacit knowledge:
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Is passed through observation, repetition, not coding or documentation
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Sustains material resilience, reduces planned obsolescence
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Holds deep ethical and economic value
📊 Challenges in Current Digital Policy Frameworks
| Area | Challenge |
|---|---|
| Digital India | Over-focus on innovation, under-focus on sustaining repair knowledge |
| E-Waste Rules (2022) | Encourages recycling, not repair as prevention |
| Skill Development | PMKVY focuses on factory jobs, not improvisational repair work |
| AI Policies | Use community knowledge for training AI, but contributors remain unrecognised |
🤖 AI & Repair: The Missing Link
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AI models learn from community behaviours, but don’t reward local labour
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Modern gadgets are not repair-friendly (Only 23% of Asian smartphones are easily repairable – iFixit 2023)
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LLMs (Large Language Models) and Decision Trees can preserve tacit knowledge
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Design for Unmaking: A concept promoting devices that are built to be disassembled, reused and repaired
🏛 What Can Be Done?
🏢 Government Actions
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Ministry of Electronics & IT: Include repairability in AI and procurement policies
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Department of Consumer Affairs: Expand Right to Repair to informal sectors
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Ministry of Labour: Use e-Shram to identify and support informal repairers
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Ministry of Skill Development: Create non-linear training for intuitive skills
🌍 Global Context
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European Union: Rules for spare parts access and documentation
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UN SDG Goal 12: Sustainable consumption and production — promotes repair culture
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US, UK, France: Strengthening consumer rights to repair and reuse devices
🧠 Why This Matters for UPSC?
India’s Right to Repair movement ties into:
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Digital sovereignty
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Ethical use of AI
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Inclusive policy making
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Informal economy recognition
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Circular economy and e-waste reduction
🧾 UPSC Previous Year Prelims Questions (PYQs)
❓Q1. Which of the following are the key features of the National Policy on Electronics? (UPSC Prelims 2020)
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Promotion of repair services in electronics
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Incentives for electronics manufacturing
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Promotion of e-waste management
❓Q2. What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)? (UPSC Prelims 2021)
❓Q3. The term "Circular Economy" most appropriately refers to: (UPSC Prelims 2018)
✅ Answer: a)
✍️ Model Mains Questions (GS-2 & GS-3)
GS-2 (250 words)
“India’s Right to Repair initiative represents not just a consumer right but a larger recognition of knowledge systems and sustainability. Examine the policy gaps and suggest reforms.”
GS-3 (150 words)
“Informal repair workers play a vital role in promoting circular economy. Discuss the challenges they face in India’s digital and AI-based policy landscape.”
🔍 Keywords for Answer Writing
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Tacit knowledge
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Planned obsolescence
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Design for disassembly
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Extended Producer Responsibility
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Informal economy
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AI and inclusivity
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Circular economy
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Sustainable consumption
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Right to repair
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Digital justice
📌 Summary Table
| Dimension | Key Takeaways |
|---|---|
| Policy | India introduced Repairability Index in 2025 |
| Challenge | Informal repairers are excluded from digital and AI policy frameworks |
| Solution | Recognise tacit knowledge, provide training, integrate into e-governance |
| Global Relevance | UN SDG 12, EU policies support Right to Repair |
| UPSC Angle | GS-2 (Policy & Rights), GS-3 (Environment & Tech), Ethics (Dignity of informal labour) |
📢 Suryavanshi IAS Says:
“Right to Repair” is not just about fixing gadgets — it’s about fixing policy blind spots, valuing human ingenuity, and enabling sustainable futures.
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