Device makers in India must adopt USB Type-C charging by 2025

The EU's common charger directive for smartphones will take effect in three months, while laptop manufacturers have until 2026 to comply.

Device manufacturers have until March 2025 to make sure that all of the products they sell in India have a USB Type-C port for charging. This directive, called the common charger directive, requires manufacturers to adhere to a universal USB Type-C wired charging standard. The European Union (EU) has already set a deadline of December 28, 2024 for compliance, and India will follow suit a few months later in March 2025.

"There is a global supply chain at play when it comes to chargers, so we have to align ourselves with the global timeline," explained Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. He added, "In India, the directive will take effect three months after the European Union."

The Government of India has established another sub group to evaluate the possibility of implementing a standard charger for wearables sold in India. It is worth mentioning that the majority of Android phones already come equipped with USB Type-C ports, so it is only Apple that will need to switch from their proprietary Lightning ports.

The deadline for this change has been set for March 2025 for smartphones, while laptop manufacturers have until 2026 to make necessary adjustments.