Lok Sabha Question No. 1557 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Regulation of Smartphone Manufacturers
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1557

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 27.12.2017

## REGULATION  OF  SMARTPHONE MANUFACTURERS

## 1557. SHRI  PONGULETI  SRINIVASA  REDDY:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  asked  21  smartphone  makers  of  which  majority  are Chinese to share the security procedures and processes they have undertaken to ensure security  of  mobile  phone  devices  in  order  to  ensure  that  mobile  phone  users  have assured data privacy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is true that there are many  instances that mobile handsets have exploded/caught fire across the country resulting in irreparable loss to the customers; and
- (d) if so, the measures taken by the Government to ensure safety of public?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ALPHONS KANNANTHANAM)

(a) and (b):  The mobile/smartphone devices are playing a crucial role in achieving the goal  of  Digital  India,  hence  there  is  a  need  to  ensure  the  security  and  safety  of  these devices.  Towards  this,  Indian  Computer  Emergency  Response  Team(CERT-In)  has requested    the  mobile  manufactures  selling  smartphones  in  India  for  furnishing  details about  the  safety  and  security  practices,  architecture,  frameworks,  guidelines/standards followed and implemented in their respective product / services, provided in the country.

(c):  The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has not received any complaint in this regard, however:-

- (i) BIS  vide e-mail dated 28.02.2017 had informed MeitY  regarding the explosion  of  Samsung  Galaxy  Note  7  reported  in  the  media.    BIS  has  also indicated  that  they  had  taken  up  the  matter  with  M/s.  Samsung  India Electronics  Pvt.  Ltd.,  Gurgaon  to  submit  the  root-cause  analysis,  corrective actions proposed and taken. Further, M/s. Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd., had submitted the details to BIS and indicating that they have not initiated the supply of the product-Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in India. Subsequently BIS had informed vide e-mail dated 01.03.2017 that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, with

batteries and adaptors have been included in the scope of registration with BIS based on testing at BIS recognized labs as per applicable safety standards, i.e., IS 13252, IS 16046 and  IS 13252 respectively.

- (ii) The issue  of  explosion  of  Redmi  Note  4  was  also  reported  in  media.  Since, MeitY has notified Indian Safety Standards for mobile phones and the  Redmi Note 4  was registered by BIS, proactively,  MeitY has initiated surveillance for  the  batteries  registered  with  BIS  by  Xiaomi  as  the  battery  is  the  major exploding unit in the mobile phone. The samples of batteries registered with BIS were picked up and submitted at BIS recognized labs for testing as per the applicable safety standards. The test results from the labs have confirmed that these batteries are compliant to the Indian Safety Standards.

(d):    The  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MeitY),  has  notified 'Electronics  and  IT  Goods  (Requirement  of  Compulsory  Registration)  Order,  2012 (CRO)' in the Gazette of  India  vide  S.O.  No.  2357(E)  dated  03.10.2012  and  S.O.  No. 2905(E)  dated  13.11.2014  under  the  provision  of  Compulsory  Registration  Scheme  of BIS Act, 1986. The Order mandates Indian Safety Standards for notified products. The products are added to the Schedule of the Order  in a phased manner. The mobile phone, Sealed Secondary Cells / Batteries containing Alkaline or other non-acid Electrolytes for use  in  portable  applications  and  Power  Adaptors  for  IT  Equipments  were  added  to  the Schedule of Order on 13 th Nov 2014. The Order came into effect on 13 th Sep 2015 for mobile phones, on 1 st Jun 2016 for Sealed Secondary Cells / Batteries containing Alkaline or other non-acid Electrolytes for use in portable applications (e.g., mobile phone), and on 31 st Jan  2017.  MeitY  is  also  executing  surveillance  of  the  goods  notified  under  CRO which are registered by BIS.

*******