New mobile recharge rules: 30-day plans, call-only options and more
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced new regulations requiring telecom providers to offer 30-day validity prepaid plans. This change addresses consumer complaints regarding the common 28-day billing cycle, which effectively forced users to recharge 13 times a year.
Why it matters
This regulatory shift directly impacts consumer costs and transparency in the mobile telecommunications market for millions of users.
Prepaid mobile users will have more recharge options under a new consumer protection framework notified by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), with the changes covering both plan validity and voice-and-SMS-only services.The new rules provide for greater availability of voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs), including plans valid for 30 days or less. They also provide for a plan that can renew on the same date every month.The changes were highlighted by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who said they addressed concerns he had raised in Parliament earlier this year. His concerns included the 28-day validity offered on several monthly prepaid plans and the lack of voice-only options for consumers who do not require mobile data.What are the new changes?TRAI notified the Telecom Consumers Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on September 22.
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