Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the new telecom regulations providing greater choice in prepaid mobile recharge plans, including 30-day validity options and voice- and SMS-only packs.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, on September 22.
The amended framework requires telecom operators to offer voice- and SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) corresponding to each validity period available for bundled voice, SMS and data STVs.
Raghav Chadha described the changes as ‘good news’ for prepaid users, particularly those who primarily use their mobile phones for voice calls and SMS. He said the new options would provide greater flexibility and more suitable choices for consumers with limited data requirements.
In a post on X, the Rajya Sabha MP said the introduction of 30-day recharge plans would reduce the need for consumers to make 13 recharges in a year under shorter 28-day cycles, bringing the number of monthly recharges down to 12. He said consumers had previously raised concerns with him over limited and inflexible recharge options.
According to Raghav Chadha, he raised the issue in Parliament on March 11 and sought greater choice and affordability for mobile users.
Good news for Prepaid Mobile Users in India
The Govt just introduced Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, consumers will now have:
• 30-day recharge plans, reducing the need for 13 monthly recharges to 12 in a year
• Voice and SMS-only plans… pic.twitter.com/mfWVfMWNqR— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) September 27, 2026
TRAI’s new rules require operators to offer voice- and SMS-only STVs for every bundled-plan validity of up to 30 days, with proportionately lower prices.
The changes give prepaid users more flexible options based on their needs.
Raghav Chadha had earlier raised concerns over the use of 28-day recharge cycles for plans commonly described as monthly.
The new framework provides consumers with a broader range of validity and service options while allowing them to select plans based on their calling, SMS and data requirements.
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