Now, mobile recharges will need to be done only 12 times a year instead of 13; affordable voice-only plans will also be launched..

There is welcome news for millions of mobile consumers across the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has implemented the 'Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026,' bringing about significant changes to the rules. As a result of this decision, customers will now need to recharge their accounts only 12 times a year instead of 13.

**Affordable Recharge Plans with 30-Day Validity:** Under the new regulations, all major telecom companies—such as Reliance Jio, Airtel, BSNL, and Vodafone Idea—are required to offer plans with a full 30-day validity, as well as affordable 'voice-only' packs that do not include data. Welcoming this move by TRAI, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha hailed the decision as historic and in the public interest.

**Two Major Benefits for Consumers**
1- With the implementation of TRAI's new regulations, prepaid mobile customers will enjoy direct savings and more affordable services on two key fronts. First, they will now need to recharge 12 times a year instead of 13. Previously, due to plans offering 28-day validity, customers had to recharge 13 times within a single year (365 days).

2- Second, the introduction of plans with a full 30-day calendar validity means customers will only need to recharge 12 times annually, effectively saving the cost of one month's recharge. Additionally, telecom companies will be required to offer plans that include only voice and SMS services. This will benefit consumers who do not require internet data, as they will no longer have to pay extra charges for data packs; companies will have to provide highly affordable plans focused solely on voice calling and SMS. 

**Objections Raised in Parliament Against 28-Day Plans**
Strong objections were raised in Parliament against telecom companies for offering plans with a 28-day validity period, despite months having 30 or 31 days. On March 11, MP Raghav Chadha raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha, urging the government to intervene and protect consumers from financial exploitation. Consequently, acknowledging this long-standing consumer grievance and the demand raised in Parliament, the government and TRAI have introduced a new rule, providing significant relief to customers.

**Direct Benefit to 300 Million Basic Users, Including the Elderly**
Despite the expansion of smartphones and 5G services across the country, approximately 300 million people still use feature phones—specifically, keypad-based mobile phones. Elderly users, in particular, do not require expensive data packs; 'calling-only' plans prove to be the most suitable for them. Additionally, some users maintain a secondary SIM card solely for receiving bank OTPs or incoming calls. Such consumers and rural households will now experience considerable relief.

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