Govt meets auto industry, asks firms to onboard right to repair portal

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) held a meeting with automobile associations and companies on Saturday to encourage their participation in the newly launched Right to Repair Portal India, aimed at empowering consumers with easier access to product repair information.

The meeting, chaired by DoCA Secretary Nidhi Khare, focused on addressing consumer concerns about restricted access to repair tools, high costs, and service delays in the automotive sector, an official statement said.

Khare emphasized the need to "democratize repair manuals and videos" and foster a robust ecosystem for third-party repair services. She also suggested introducing a "repairability index" for vehicles to inform consumers about product lifespan and ease of repair.

The government portal (https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/) seeks to provide consumers with information to repair their products, contributing to a circular economy and reducing e-waste.

Key points discussed in the meeting include: making