As per the standards set by the Department of Telecom, Government of India, for all the new designs of mobile handsets, the permissible Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit is _______ averaged over 1 gram of human tissue with effect from 1st September 2012.

The correct answer is 1.6 W/kg.

Key Points

• As per the standards set by the Department of Telecom, Government of India, for all the new designs of mobile handsets, the permissible Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit is 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of human tissue with effect from 1st September 2012. 
  • India has adopted one of the most stringed Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) exposure norms in the world.
• The measures are taken by the Department of  Telecommunications, Government of India, are:
  • Mobile Towers‐ EMF Radiation Norms:
    • EMF exposure limit (Base Station Emissions) is lowered to 1/10th of the existing ICNIRP exposure level effective from 1st Sept. 2012.
    • India now has one of the most stringent EMF exposure norms in the world.
    • Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cells of DOT have been entrusted with the job of conducting audits on the self-certification furnished by the Service Providers.
    • TERM Cell shall carry out test audits up to 10% of the BTS site on a random basis and on all cases where there is a public complaint.
    • Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) has revised the Test Procedure for measurement of EMF for verification of EMF compliance for BTS towers per new standards effective from 1st Sept. 2012.
    • For non‐compliance with EMF standards, a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh is liable to be levied per BTS per Service Provider.
  • Mobile Handsets
    • All the new designs of mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR values of 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of human tissue w.e.f. 1st Sept. 2012.
    • The mobile handsets with existing designs which are compliant with 2.0 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of human tissue, continue to co‐exist up to 31st August 2013. From 1st Sept. 2013, only the mobile handsets with a revised SAR value of 1.6 W/kg would be permitted to be manufactured or imported in India.
    • Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value information is displayed on the mobile handsets like IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) display. 
    • The information on SAR values is to be made available to the consumer at the point of sale.
    • Mobile handsets manufactured and sold in India or imported from other countries shall be checked on a random basis for compliance with the SAR limit after TEC SAR Laboratory is set up by end of the year 2012.
    • Test results from international accredited labs shall be acceptable in the interim period.
    • All cell phone handsets sold in the market in India shall comply with relevant standards and shall be available in hand-free mode.