30-day recharge plans now mandatory: What TRAI's new rules mean for prepaid users

New Delhi: Prepaid mobile users will now have access to 30-day recharge options and voice- and SMS-only plans under new consumer protection rules notified by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

The regulator has finalised the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, requiring telecom operators to offer special tariff vouchers (STVs) that provide voice calling and SMS services without data.

Under the revised rules, operators must offer such plans with different validity options, including plans valid for 30 days or less. They can also provide a plan that renews on the same date every month.

The move addresses concerns over prepaid users having to recharge more frequently because several so-called monthly plans were earlier valid for only 28 days.

The issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha by BJP MP Raghav Chadha on March 11. Chadha had pointed out that a 28-day validity meant some prepaid users effectively had to recharge 13 times a year, despite there being 12 months in a year. He also called for voice-only plans for customers who do not need mobile data.

In a post on X, Chadha said the introduction of 30-day validity plans would address the concern.

The new rules also state that if an operator offers a shorter-duration bundled plan, it must provide a corresponding voice- and SMS-only version at a proportionately lower price.

TRAI said the changes were finalised after consultations with stakeholders, who submitted 1,132 responses.

The regulator said voice- and SMS-only prepaid plans are intended for customers who do not require internet services. The options could be particularly useful for users such as senior citizens and low-budget customers who primarily use their phones for making and receiving calls.