In India’s fast-moving digital economy, one sector quietly powers the daily lives of millions — the repair ecosystem. From smartphones and smart TVs to set-top boxes and laptops, a new generation of skilled technicians is ensuring that our devices stay functional, connected, and sustainable. These professionals are not just fixing gadgets; they are rebuilding consumer trust, extending product lifecycles, and contributing to a circular economy that values repair over replacement. Today, electronics repair is evolving from a traditional trade into a modern, technology-driven career stream. With structured training, diagnostic tools, and industry certifications, India’s repair workforce is being rebooted and at the heart of this transformation stands the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI), which has built job-ready skill programs to formalize, upgrade, and dignify this vital profession.
Repair Revolution
The Indian electronics repair market stands at the threshold of unprecedented growth, with projections indicating a potential to generate over $20 billion in annual revenue and create more than 5 million direct jobs by 2027. This surge is fueled by India’s massive electronics consumption, where over 350 million smartphones are sold annually, alongside millions of laptops, televisions, and digital entertainment devices that inevitably require professional repair services. The Right to Repair in India, introduced in 2022, allows consumers to repair their own products by ensuring access to spare parts and manuals. It promotes sustainability, reduces e-waste, and supports a circular economy across sectors like electronics, automobiles, and appliances. The government’s Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO) initiative, launched in 2023, represents a paradigm shift toward making India the global repair capital. With high repair costs in developed countries like the US and Europe compelling corporations to outsource repair services to countries with skilled workforce and cost advantages, India is strategically positioned to capture a significant share of the global $100 billion repair services market.
The Modern Repair Professional: Skills and Tools
Today’s repair technicians work with advanced diagnostic equipment, software-based analyzers, and IoT-linked tools. They understand both hardware and firmware, blending craftsmanship with digital literacy.
Typical repair roles include:
- Smartphone Repair Technician: Diagnoses and replaces touch panels, batteries, chipsets, and performs software flashing.
- AC Repair Technician: An AC repair Technician installs, maintains, and repairs air conditioning systems, ensuring efficient cooling and optimal performance in homes and commercial spaces.
- Television & Home Appliance Technician: Handles LCD/LED panels, circuit boards, power supplies, and connectivity modules.
- Laptop/Computer Hardware Technician: Manages motherboard faults, component replacements, and system upgrades.
- Consumer Electronics Service Engineer: Provides on-site support, customer care, and preventive maintenance for multiple device categories.
- Remote Helpdesk Technician: Provides technical support to users from a remote location, troubleshooting software, hardware, and network issues to ensure smooth system operations and user satisfaction.
Each of these roles now requires structured training, something ESSCI has institutionalized through its National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Qualification Packs (QPs) that define exactly what a skilled technician must know and demonstrate on the job.
Role of the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI)
Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI), working under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is leading the mission to professionalize and expand the electronics repair workforce.
ESSCI’s key mandate is to develop standardized job roles, training frameworks, and certification systems for India’s electronics sector. It collaborates with industry, training institutions, and state governments to ensure that skill development keeps pace with technology.
· Smartphone Assembly: Responsible for assembling smartphones, soldering PCBs, connecting displays and batteries, and performing quality checks. Requires precision, understanding of circuits, and adherence to safety and production protocols.
o Expected Salary: ₹12,000–₹20,000/month (entry-level), ₹25,000+ with experience
o Job Opportunities: Electronics manufacturing plants, OEM assembly units, mobile repair startups
· Maintenance Technician: Conducts preventive and corrective maintenance for electronics equipment, ensuring operational efficiency. Requires diagnostic ability and safety compliance knowledge.
o Expected Salary: ₹15,000–₹28,000/month
o Job Opportunities: Manufacturing plants, service centers, corporate maintenance departments
· TV Repair Technician: Repairs LED/LCD/Smart TVs, performs hardware and software troubleshooting, and ensures picture and sound quality. Requires electronics knowledge and hands-on repair skills.
o Expected Salary: ₹12,000–₹25,000/month
o Job Opportunities: Electronics service centers, brand-authorized service outlets, freelance repair businesses
· Field Technician – Air Conditioner: Installs, services, and maintains air conditioning systems, including wiring, refrigerant charging, and fault diagnosis. Requires HVAC principles, electrical skills, and safety awareness.
o Expected Salary: ₹18,000–₹30,000/month
o Job Opportunities: AC service companies, residential/commercial installations, appliance maintenance service provider
· Sr. Technician RACW (Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Washing Machine): Leads repair and maintenance of refrigeration, AC, and washing machines, coordinates teams, and ensures quality standards. Requires advanced appliance knowledge and leadership skills.
o Expected Salary: ₹25,000–₹40,000/month
o Job Opportunities: Corporate service centers, appliance manufacturing companies, maintenance contractors
· Service Technician – Home Appliances: Repairs, maintains, and installs home appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and microwaves. Requires technical knowledge and customer interaction skills.
o Expected Salary: ₹12,000–₹25,000/month
o Job Opportunities: Brand-authorized service centers, retail appliance chains, freelance/home service providers
· Multi Skill Technician – Consumer Durables: Repairs and maintains a range of consumer durables such as TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines. Requires multi-appliance knowledge, diagnostic ability, and flexibility.
o Expected Salary: ₹15,000–₹30,000/month
o Job Opportunities: Large appliance service networks, retail service divisions, independent technicians
Why the Repair Workforce Matters
- Economic Value: Every repaired device reduces import dependence and boosts local value addition.
- Environmental Sustainability: Repairing extends the product life cycle and reduces e-waste generation.
- Employment Generation: The repair sector offers accessible entry-level jobs that can grow into micro-enterprises.
- Social Empowerment: Many ESSCI-certified technicians come from rural or semi-urban areas, where repair work becomes a sustainable livelihood.
ESSCI’s initiatives ensure that this workforce remains skilled, recognized, and future-ready. It has created career progression pathways that allow a smartphone repair technician to advance into roles like service engineer, quality inspector, or even service centre manager.
Conclusion
From repairing smartphones in bustling city service centres to fixing set-top boxes in small towns, India’s repair technicians keep the nation digitally connected. They represent the resilience and adaptability of India’s youth — learning, evolving, and ensuring that technology remains usable and sustainable.
Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) continues to play a transformative role in shaping this workforce — building structured training ecosystems, certifying excellence, and giving legitimacy to millions of skilled hands who keep the digital world running.
As the nation moves toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in electronics, these repair experts are not just mending machines — they are powering India’s sustainable, circular, and inclusive growth story.
