Why an extra mobile recharge per year? The government is actively pursuing a 30-day plan..

In light of the financial loss incurred by users because monthly mobile recharge plans in the country typically have a validity of only 28 days, the government will now urge telecom companies to promote 30-day recharge plans more actively. According to a report by *Live Mint*, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the objective is to raise awareness among consumers regarding the availability of 30-day plans. He noted that while 30-day plans are already available in the market, the government is now urging companies to publicize them more extensively.

Citing directives from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Scindia explained that every operator must include a 30-day option within their bundle of plans.

Currently, the majority of mobile subscribers utilize plans with a 28-day validity, which effectively compels them to recharge 13 times a year instead of 12. This arrangement has been a source of dissatisfaction among consumers, as it imposes the financial burden of an extra month's recharge upon them. Recently, AAP MP Raghav Chadha raised this issue in Parliament. He suggested that 28-day recharge plans should be discontinued and that a minimum validity of 30 days—or one full calendar month—should be made mandatory for all monthly plans.

The Government's Stance
Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the government cannot issue a directive mandating that operators sell *only* 30-day plans, as they remain free to determine their own marketing and sales strategies. However, their product portfolios must include options such as one-time plans, customized plans, and 30-day plans. Operators are currently complying with this regulation.

Regarding the issue of incoming calls being disconnected immediately after a recharge plan expires, the government has established a system known as 'Tariff Forbearance.' Under this framework, TRAI does not directly fix the tariffs for telecom services; instead, it grants operators the flexibility to determine their own pricing and terms of service based on market competition. This also covers the duration for which incoming services will continue after the validity of a recharge expires. TRAI is now reviewing the validity periods of recharge plans as well as the regulations about incoming calls. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has also sought detailed comments and suggestions from the regulator on this matter.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.