Digit hosted its India’s Top Appliance Awards (DITAA 2026) on Friday, bringing together the leading home appliance brands. Among the guests of honour were Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Brajesh Pathak. Before starting with the set of awards, Pathak addressed the attendees and urged the appliance makers that the next big change in the appliances should not simply be about adding more features or launching newer models. Rather, it should be about making them better, smarter and built to last. He advised the home appliance manufacturers to make quality and durability key priorities in product design.
Calling himself a representative of consumers, he said families should be able to depend on appliances for years, while manufacturers should find ways to upgrade existing products as technology moves forward.
Talking about the refrigerators, the minister said that a device bought by a family should be designed to remain useful for many years. ‘A poor man buys a refrigerator once; a middle-class man buys it once, so it should last at least 20 years,’ he said.
He also suggested that manufacturers consider ways to upgrade older appliances instead of simply replacing them. Using the refrigerator as an example, Pathak said, ‘Either you buy back that refrigerator or find some way to upgrade it and give it back to us in a modern form.’
He also urged AC makers to develop ACs that cool rooms to 16 degrees Celsius and then automatically move to 24 degrees Celsius after around 30 minutes.
He further noted that the manufacturers need to find better ways to manage water from ACs, suggesting technology that could prevent water from dripping outside and make maintenance easier.
The deputy CM also recalled how early televisions needed nearly half an hour to warm up before they would switch on, a memory that drew smiles from the audience. He traced how the arrival of colour television, followed by set-top boxes, and now smart TVs with inbuilt channels, marked a rapid shift in how Indian households access entertainment.
The minister also talked about the steady progress in the appliances sector. However, he then stated that the manufacturers must now balance new features with lasting value for consumers.
Also read: DITAA 2026: Digit India’s Top Appliance Awards 2026 winners announced, check the complete list
Lastly, he said that the manufacturers have an opportunity to understand what customers need as appliances become part of Indian homes. He praised Digit Magazine for creating a platform that helps consumers compare products and make informed buying decisions.
At the same time, he noted that technology should progress while people remain connected with nature. ‘It is a good thing that we are progressing, but we must not lose our fundamental nature,’ he said.