New Delhi: Prepaid mobile users in India are set to get more flexibility in choosing recharge plans after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified the Telecom Consumers Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on September 22.
Under the new rules, telecom operators will have to offer Voice and SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for customers who primarily use their mobile connections for calls and messages and do not require mobile data.
What Has Changed?
The new regulations do not mean that every prepaid plan will automatically become a 30-day plan. Instead, operators will have to provide voice-and-SMS-only recharge options with different validity periods, giving consumers more choices based on their usage.
The move is aimed particularly at customers who do not want to pay for data services they may not use. TRAI had earlier noted that the availability of voice-and-SMS-only vouchers was limited and proposed changes to provide consumers with more suitable options.
Raghav Chadha Had Raised the 28-Day Issue
The development comes months after AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha raised concerns about prepaid recharge practices in Parliament on March 11.
Chadha questioned the use of 28-day validity for plans commonly described as monthly recharges. He pointed out that 28-day cycles can result in consumers needing 13 recharges over 364 days, instead of 12 monthly recharges in a calendar year.
He also raised concerns about incoming calls and SMS being discontinued after recharge validity expires and called for greater continuity for essential communications, including OTPs and emergency calls.
What Does It Mean for Users?
The new TRAI framework will give prepaid customers more options, especially those who mainly need calling and SMS services. Users will be able to choose voice-and-SMS-only plans instead of paying for data they do not need.
TRAI has already notified the regulations. The rules are therefore in place, while telecom operators will now have to provide the required options under the new framework