Relief for mobile users! Now, 30-day recharge options and plans without data will also be available..

There is welcome news for mobile users regarding recharges. The central government has introduced the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. Under these regulations, a provision has been made to offer recharge plans with 30-day validity for prepaid mobile users. Additionally, those who do not require mobile data will have the option to choose plans that offer only voice and SMS services.

BJP MP Raghav Chadha shared details about this change via a social media post on Sunday. He explained that with the new rules, users would no longer need to recharge 13 times a year as they previously did; a total of 12 recharges annually would suffice with the 30-day validity plans.

**Options for users who do not need data**
The new rules will particularly benefit individuals who do not have a significant need for mobile internet data. Telecom companies will be required to provide voice- and SMS-only plans for such users. This gives customers who primarily use their mobile phones for calling and SMS the flexibility to select a recharge plan that suits their specific needs and budget.

In his post, Raghav Chadha mentioned that many people had shared their concerns regarding recharge plans with him. He had raised this issue in Parliament on March 11, advocating for the availability of more options and affordable plans for consumers. He also expressed his gratitude to the central government and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding this matter.

**TRAI also issues new rules**
Raghav Chadha's post comes at a time when TRAI has introduced new regulations concerning affordable voice and SMS-only Short Validity Tariff (STV) plans. According to TRAI, not every customer requires bundled plans that include data; therefore, it is essential to provide such users with more options to choose mobile recharges based on their specific requirements and financial capacity. TRAI noted that even after the implementation of the Telecom Consumer Protection (Twelfth Amendment), 2024, the availability of voice and SMS-only STV plans in the market remained limited. Many available plans featured long validity periods, leaving few options for budget-conscious customers seeking short-term recharge plans.

The new amendment aims to expand recharge options for such customers. In particular, low-income users and those who primarily use calling and SMS services will be able to select short-term, affordable plans tailored to their needs.

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