Common charger for all devices: What govt wants, what it means for industry

Common charger for all devices: What govt wants, what it means for industry

Subject :Science

Section: Awareness of computers

Context: The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs has written to stakeholders, inviting them to brainstorm a plan for having one cable for charging all your devices.

What is the reason behind the ministry’s push?

• The ministry’s move comes in the backdrop of the concept of LiFE — Lifestyle for the Environment — announced by the Prime Minister at the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP 26) held in Glasgow in November last year. Besides, the Union Cabinet has also approved India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). According to the NDC, India has committed to reducing the emission intensity of the GDP by 45% by 2030. In view of the country’s commitment to fight climate change, the ministry has taken a step in the direction to reduce electronic waste.

Which players would be impacted if there is a rule for common chargers?

• If there was a directive for a common charger for all phones, laptops, earbuds, etc., as is being considered, then Apple would be the biggest player impacted, especially in the phones segment. The reason: Apple’s iPhone is still using the Lighting port for charging, and this requires a different cable compared to most other Android phones in the market.
• Apple’s Lightning port is in stark contrast to devices from players like Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Realme — the top five brands in the Indian smartphone market. All five have switched to phones with Type-C charging ports. Now, while the charging speeds supported on each device might be different, given that most have a Type-C port at the bottom, the chargers can be used interchangeably.

Have other countries tried to pass similar laws or rules around chargers?

• This idea of ‘one charger for all devices’ is not new. It was also proposed by the European Union in June.