§1What this business is

A rechargeable torch runs on a storage battery charged from mains power; the KVIC profile says one full charge lasts about 14 hours and the battery needs replacing after about 2 years. The unit buys parts, assembles torches with drills, jigs and hand tools, and tests them with voltmeters, ammeters, a megger and a high-voltage tester. Almost all the money goes into parts stock rather than machines.

Capacity: 30,000 torches a year.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

Someone with basic electrical skills and a dealer network in rural and small-town markets.

Who it is not for

Someone hoping to beat imported torches on price alone.

Advantages

  • Very low machinery cost (₹83,000)
  • Simple assembly and testing skills
  • Useful product where power cuts are common
  • Small team

Drawbacks

  • Cheap imported torches compete on price
  • Profit per torch is small
  • Most money is tied up in parts stock
  • Battery rules add paperwork

Skills you need

  • Electrical assembly and soldering
  • Battery and charger testing
  • Parts buying
  • Dealer sales

Why difficulty 2/5: Simple assembly; the challenge is price competition and working capital.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Rural and small-town households
  • Shopkeepers and night-shift workers
  • Farmers

How it sells

  • Electrical and general stores
  • Distributors and wholesalers
  • Village fairs and haats

Good to know

  • The profile stresses lower running cost than dry-cell torches.
  • Torches come in many shapes and models, so design matters for sales.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Drill machine 3/4", testing board with voltmeter and ammeter, megger (0–500 V), multimeter, hydrometer, high-voltage tester, tools, dies and jigs, office equipment and furniture1 lot₹83,000 (including pre-operative expenses)

From: KVIC Project Profile — Rechargeable Torch (PMEGP)

  • Torch components (bought-out parts and batteries)₹39,36,000 a year in the profile
  • Labels and packing material₹1,25,000 a year

From: KVIC Project Profile — Rechargeable Torch (PMEGP)

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam
  2. GST
  3. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) registration under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, for batteries sold in the torch
  4. Legal Metrology registration for packed goods

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

The KVIC profile was made for PMEGP; MUDRA Tarun fits a loan of this size; CGTMSE covers collateral-free loans.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹83,000 (drill machine, testing board with voltmeter and ammeter, megger, multimeter, hydrometer, high-voltage tester, tools, dies, jigs, office equipment, pre-operative) + working capital ₹11.00 L = ₹11.83 L; land own, shed rented.

Working capital: Working capital ₹11.00 L — about 93% of the project; raw material (parts) costs ₹39.36 L a year.

Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export

8513.10Portable electric lamps designed to function by their own source of energy (torches)
  • Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker before shipping.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Price competition from imports
  • Defective batteries and returns
  • Parts price swings
  • Shift to mobile-phone torches

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working rechargeable torch assembly unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect

§12Watch

There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.

Want to start Rechargeable Torch Assembly?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. KVIC Project Profile — Rechargeable Torch (PMEGP)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.