The government of India is considering standardising charging connectors in the country, with the widely used Type-C port being the likely choice. This decision follows a similar order issued by the European Union (EU) in 2022, which will go into effect at the end of this year. The new rule aims to enable users to use a single cable to charge multiple devices, as a measure to reduce e-waste. Additionally, the government may also mandate the use of a Type-C port to charge laptops at a later date.
Standard charging connector
According to a report, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is planning to require device manufacturers to use the same charging port for smartphones, tablets, and laptops. This rule is expected to go into effect from 2026 for laptops and starting June 2025 for smartphones and tablets. The proposed charging port is likely to be the modern USB Type-C connector.
However, wearable devices like smartwatches and basic feature phones are not expected to be included in this mandate. This move aims to reduce electronic waste from the various cables used for charging devices and make it possible for users to charge all their devices with a single cable.
In November 2022, the government reportedly reached a consensus to adopt USB Type-C as the standard charging method. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh stated, “During the meeting, a broad consensus emerged among stakeholders on the adoption of USB Type-C as a charging port for electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops.”
India is getting ready to announce its common charger rules, although no specific timeframe was mentioned initially. A recent report also indicates that MeitY will give an additional six months to ensure compliance by all stakeholders.
What is the European Union’s (EU) order?
The EU passed a mandate in 2022 requiring the use of USB Type-C as the standard charging port for various hardware including smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, handheld video-game consoles, and portable speakers. This change led Apple to replace its proprietary lightning port with USB Type-C, beginning with the iPhone 15 series in 2023.
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