Lok Sabha Question No. 2067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Sub-standard Mobile Handset
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2067 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  MARCH, 2018

## SUB-STANDARD MOBILE HANDSET

## 2067. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether sub-standard mobile handsets are one of the reasons for the menace of call drops and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the standards/norms, if any, laid down by the Government to be complied with by mobile handset in the market;
- (c) whether  any  standards  have  been  laid  down  that  must  be  mandatorily  be complied with by mobile handsets in the market;
- (d) whether a  body  or  a  process  is  in  place  to  ensure  inspection  and  approval  of such handsets for import or domestic production and sale in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether such standards and checks have resulted in prevention of the import or domestic production and sale of such sub-standard handsets in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (e) Apart  from  network  problems,  call  drop  can  occur  due  to  reasons attributable to consumer or due to the environment in which the consumer is using the mobile. The reasons which can be attributable to the consumer could be mobile handset issues such as poor handset quality and sensitivity, battery drain issues etc.

Ministry of Electronics &  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  has  notified the 'Electronics  and  IT  Goods  (Requirement  for  Compulsory  Registration)  Order,  2012' (CRO)  on  3 rd October,  2012  under  the  ambit  of  the  Registration  Scheme  notified  by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the BIS Act 1986 to ensure the safety of the Indian Consumers. The order mandates ' Indian Safety Standards ' for the notified goods. The Mobile phones have been notified under the schedule of Order for compliance as per IS 13252: (part-1): 2010 vide notification dated 13 th November, 2014 and has come into  effect  from  13 th September,  2015.  Further,  the  compliance  to  Indian  Language support  for  mobile  phone  as  per  IS  16333  (part  3):  2016  has  been  notified  on  24 th October, 2016 and has come into effect from 23 rd February, 2018.

As per the provision of Order, the manufacturers of the notified goods have to seek registration from the BIS based on compliance test reports from BIS recognized laboratories  as  per  relevant  Indian  Standards.  As  per  the provisions  of  the  Order,  no person shall by himself or through any person on his behalf manufacture or store for sale, import, sell or distribute goods which do not conform to the specified standard and do not bear the 'Standard Mark' after obtaining the Unique Registration Number from the Bureau. The Customs authorities are responsible for ensuring that only registered notified  goods  are  allowed  to  be  imported  into  the  country.  Further,  to  ensure  the compliance  of  the  Order,  surveillance  is  being  executed  by  Ministry  of  Electronics  & Information Technology (MeitY).

The  Compulsory  Registration  Order  has  resulted  in  high  compliance  of  notified electronic goods to Indian safety standards. As on date, more than 1100 registrations have  been  granted  by  BIS  to  all  manufacturing  units  covering  approximately  55,000 products models/ series.

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