Brief Overview
- TRAI has asked phone companies to offer prepaid plans with a full 30 days of validity.
- Users who do not need internet can get more plans with only calls and SMS.
- Raghav Chadha says this cuts yearly recharges from 13 to 12, though plan prices are still unknown.
If you use a prepaid SIM in India, a small but useful change is on its way. Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said new rules from the telecom regulator TRAI will introduce 30-day recharge plans and plans that offer only calls and SMS.
TRAI put out the Telecom Consumers Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on September 22. Here is a detailed breakdown of the changes.
Why 28 Days Is a Problem
Most of us think a monthly plan lasts one month. In reality, many of these plans stop working after just 28 days.
That sounds like a tiny gap, but it adds up. A year has 12 months, yet a person on a 28-day plan ends up paying 13 times.
Chadha’s point was simple: you are paying for an extra month every year without getting one.
So, the new rules bring in plans that last a full 30 days. This means users who pick them will need to recharge 12 times a year, not 13.
Plans for People Who Do Not Use Data
As we all know, there are still a lot of people who do not use mobile data. Not everyone scrolls videos on their phone all day. Many elderly people and many people on tight budgets only want to make and receive calls.
Right now, they often pay for internet data they never touch. Under the new rules, phone companies have to offer more plans with just voice and SMS.
TRAI already had a basic setup for these packs, and the new rules expand on it.
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How the Rules Came About
TRAI says it wants people to be able to pick plans that match how they really use their phones and what they can afford.
Before finalising the rules, it asked for opinions from the public and the industry. It received 1,132 responses and held an open discussion in June 2026.
Chadha said many people had told him that recharge choices were too few and too fixed. He described the result as a good example of politics that works: people raise a problem, a lawmaker takes it up, and the regulator acts.
What You Should Do
Nothing right now. But over the next few weeks, keep an eye on the plan lists in your telecom company’s app.
Look for a plan that says 30 days, and check whether a calls-only pack suits you. If you use home Wi-Fi most of the time, a plan without data could save you money.
What We Still Do Not Know
The reports so far do not say when phone companies must start selling these plans. They also do not say how much the new plans will cost.
That matters, because a calls-only pack is only useful if it is clearly cheaper than the usual bundle. A 30-day plan is also only fair if it does not cost much more than the 28-day one it replaces.
So the news is good, but the real test is what shows up in your recharge app and at what price. Before you switch, read the details on validity, call limits, and SMS limits, so there are no surprises later.
FAQs
What are TRAI’s new recharge rules?
Phone companies must offer 30-day prepaid plans and more plans with only calls and SMS.
Is there a recharge plan increase in 2026?
Not officially yet, but experts expect Jio and Airtel to raise prices by 10% to 20% this year.
How will TRAI rules affect prepaid SIM users?
You get more plan choices, like 30-day validity and no-data plans, but their prices are not known yet.
