USB Type-c charger should be mandatory for all smartphones, tablets in India | Tech Reddy

New Delhi, Nov 18: Smartphones, laptops, tablets and other smart devices in India may soon have a common USB Type-C charging port.

Associations and representatives of technology companies have agreed to adopt USB Type-C as a standard charging port for electronic products, including smartphones.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said stakeholders reached a consensus at a meeting of an inter-ministerial task force set up by the Union government on Wednesday, adding: “It was discussed that another charging port for feature phones could be adopted.”

The government is running a wide-ranging consultation aimed at moving to two standard chargers, one for all compatible devices and one for low-cost phones.

The move is also likely to reduce the huge amount of e-waste generated in the country.

India is projected to generate 5 million tonnes of e-waste in 2021, second only to China and the US, Mint reported citing an ASSOCHAM-EY report.

This comes at a time when other countries and regions are looking to move to a common charger for all electronic devices.