USB Type-C may Mandatory for Smartphones and Tablets to sale in India

According to a source, smartphones sold in India would need a standardized charging connector, most likely the popular USB Type-C socket. This new law, which is identical to the directive given by the European Union (EU) in 2022 and set to take effect at the end of this year, is reportedly intended to cut e-waste by allowing consumers to use a single cable to charge several devices. Eventually, the government might also make it mandatory to charge laptops using a Type-C connector.

USB Type-C port standardization:

According to Livemint, which cites sources with knowledge of the situation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) may soon issue orders to device makers mandating the inclusion of consistent charging connections in smartphones and tablets. It is also stated that laptops are covered by this regulation; however, the rule is not expected to take effect until 2026. It is speculated that the charging port under discussion is the contemporary USB Type-C connector.

The report claims that wearable technology like smartwatches and entry-level feature phones will not be covered by the alleged rule. This measure, which will allow users to charge all of their gadgets with a single cable, is expected to reduce the amount of electronic trash produced by the many types of cords that devices utilize. It is expected to go into effect in June 2025.

Similar legislation was passed by the EU in 2022, mandating that all hardware-including cameras, smartphones, tablets, portable game consoles, headphones, and headsets-have USB Type-C ports for charging. Beginning with the iPhone 15 series in 2023, this shift forced Apple to switch from its own lightning port to USB Type-C.

Reports state that the government decided to make USB Type-C the default charging protocol in November 2022. During the conference, a broad consensus among stakeholders formed on the adoption of USB Type-C as a charging port for electronic devices, including as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, according to a statement made at the time by Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh.

Although a timeline was not specified at the time, it appears India is now preparing to release its standard charger regulations. Additionally, according to the most recent report, MeitY will give stakeholders an extra six months to “ensure compliance.”