India to Mandate Common USB-C Charging Port for Smartphones and Tablets by June 2025
New Delhi: The Indian government is reportedly considering a mandate to standardize charging ports for smartphones and tablets sold in the country, aligning with the European Union’s (EU) rules announced in 2022. According to a reports , the new rule would require all smartphones and tablets sold in India to use a common USB Type-C charging port by June 2025. This standardization aims to reduce e-waste generated by the variety of cables and adapters currently in use. The rule may eventually extend to laptops, with implementation expected in 2026. Feature phones, audio products, and wearables are currently excluded from this mandate.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is expected to soon mandate device manufacturers to standardize charging ports for smartphones and tablets. This requirement will also apply to laptops, but the transition for laptops will begin a year later. The USB Type-C connector has been identified as the preferred standard for this initiative.
The primary goal of this regulation is to minimize e-waste by reducing the number of different cables and adapters consumers need. While most Android smartphones already use USB Type-C connectors, some tablets and accessories still rely on microUSB chargers. Apple has transitioned most of its devices to USB Type-C, including the iPhone 15 series and newer iPads, although some MacBook models continue to use MagSafe charging.
The EU’s 2022 mandate for a universal USB Type-C charging port across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, audio products, handheld consoles, and speakers, significantly influenced Apple’s transition. In India, similar discussions have been ongoing since November 2022. A task force comprising representatives from industry associations, educational institutions, ministries, and smartphone brands like Samsung and Apple has been considering the standardization of charging ports.
Previously, the Indian government encouraged Apple to reintroduce older iPhones with USB-C ports, a move Apple contended might impede its local production goals. This initiative aligns with India’s contemplation of the EU’s universal USB-C charging port mandate for smartphones.
While a definitive timeline has yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated that the new mandate will apply to smartphones and tablets by June next year, with a similar rule for laptops expected by 2026.
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