India will adopt a common law on smartphone and tablet chargers by mid-2025.

Starting in June 2025, all new smartphones and tablets sold in India will be required to have a standard charging port, allowing a single charger and cable to power multiple devices. The regulation is similar to the European Union’s (EU) “universal phone charger” law. A Mint report suggests that India’s common charging law will cover laptops in 2026, but will not currently apply to basic phones and wearables, according to three informed sources.

“A USB-C or Type-C charging port will be mandatory on smartphones and tablets from June next year. Internet-enabled phones or basic phones, hearables and wearables will be unavailable for now,” the Mint report said, citing a source.

A USB-C port will be mandatory on laptops

The source also mentioned that the USB-C port requirement on laptops will come into force in the country by the end of 2026. These dates were set after discussions with industry representatives and producers.

The new regulation applies to a wide range of devices, including not only smartphones and tablets running Android and iOS, but also devices running Windows and Mac. However, the law excludes small accessories such as fitness bands, smartwatches, earphones and phones with basic functions.

While India’s Ministry of Information Technology is yet to make an official announcement, reports indicate that the regulation is likely to be announced soon.

Recall that in 2022, the Government of India unveiled its initiative to enforce single ports across consumer electronics following an agreement reached in talks with industry bodies including MAIT, FICCI and CII. As part of this move, USB Type-C has been designated as the standardized charging port for smartphones, tablets and notebooks in India. The Type-C charging port uses a Type-C cable with identical connectors on both ends, allowing for reversible connection.

This simplifies consumer convenience by allowing one cable and charger to be used across multiple devices. For manufacturers, adopting standardized charging solutions like Type-C streamlines their supply chains and procurement efforts by reducing the complexity associated with multiple components inherent to different charging ports.

Additionally, this transition is expected to help reduce the burden of e-waste.