TRAI Mandates 30-Day Recharge Plans and Cheaper Calling-Only Vouchers in Major Consumer Win

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has notified the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, delivering major financial relief to prepaid mobile subscribers across the country.Under the new directive, telecom service providers must now offer prepaid plans with a full 30-day validity, alongside cheaper voice and SMS-only options for users who do not require mobile data.

The regulatory overhaul comes after consumer pushback regarding the standard 28-day recharge cycle enforced by major operators.The 28-day model forced prepaid subscribers to buy 13 recharges in a single calendar year to maintain continuous service.

Twelve Annual Recharges to Replace 13-Cycle Model

The core of TRAI’s thirteenth amendment tackles the artificial shortening of monthly billing cycles.By introducing mandatory 30-day validity options, mobile subscribers will now only need to complete 12 recharges per year, directly lowering annual mobile expenses for households.

The rules also mandate telecom companies to offer a Special Tariff Voucher (STV) that can renew on the exact same date each month, simplifying billing cycles for general consumers.

Targeted Options for Non-Data Users and Feature Phone Owners

A key feature of the reform addresses subscribers who do not use internet services. TRAI highlighted that low-income households, senior citizens, and basic feature phone users were previously forced to purchase expensive bundled data packs simply to keep their calling and SMS services active.

Telecom operators must now provide dedicated voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers corresponding to all existing bundled validity periods, with appropriately reduced tariffs to match.

Parliamentary Push Translates to Regulatory Action

The regulatory update follows public representations and legislative intervention.Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha had raised the issue in Parliament on 11 March, pointing out the economic burden placed on everyday citizens by 28-day cycles and forced data bundling.

Following consultation with key industry stakeholders, TRAI concluded that market availability for short-term, voice-only plans remained severely restricted after its 2024 Twelfth Amendment. The latest mandatory rules aim to eliminate those market gaps and ensure telecom choices remain accessible to every demographic.