As India bans laptop imports starting January 2025, a burgeoning black market for refurbished 'Frankenstein' laptops emerges. Local technicians are increasingly salvaging e-waste to create budget-friendly machines, significantly aiding students and small businesses. These hybrids, priced at around ₹10,000, contrast sharply with new models costing over ₹70,000. Despite the risks in informal e-waste hubs, this underground economy sustains many livelihoods. However, tech giants resist this repair culture, complicating access to parts and prolonging planned obsolescence. Discussions on right-to-repair laws are underway, yet reform remains critical.