The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced comprehensive changes to mobile recharge options through the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, notified on September 22. According to The Times of India, these new regulations provide greater flexibility for prepaid mobile users by expanding the availability of voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs), including plans valid for 30 days or less. The framework also introduces a plan that can renew on the same date every month, addressing long-standing consumer concerns about plan validity and service options. As per ANI, TRAI stated that the move would give consumers who do not need bundled data more options to recharge their mobile phones based on their financial capacity and requirements.
The new regulations directly address concerns raised by BJP MP Raghav Chadha regarding the 28-day validity of many monthly prepaid plans. Chadha had questioned why prepaid users were effectively required to recharge 13 times a year when a year has 12 months. In a social media post on Sunday, Chadha announced that the Centre has introduced these regulations, writing "The Govt just introduced Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026." The MP had specifically called for 30-day validity plans and sought the introduction of voice-only options for consumers who do not require mobile data. The amended framework now provides the 30-day validity options that Chadha had advocated for, reducing the total number of recharges in a year from 13 to 12.
The regulations significantly expand the availability of voice-and-SMS-only STVs for consumers who primarily use their phones for calls without requiring internet services. According to The Times of India, these prepaid plans provide voice and SMS services without data and are specifically intended for consumers who do not require internet services. Chadha emphasized that these options would particularly benefit senior citizens and low-budget users who mainly use their phones for calls. The new framework mandates that telecom service providers will be required to introduce voice-and-SMS-only STVs at reduced tariffs for validity periods of 30 days and shorter, corresponding to the validity periods of existing voice, SMS and data STVs. As per ANI, TRAI noted that following the implementation of the Telecom Consumer Protection (Twelfth Amendment), 2024, voice-and-SMS-only STVs had remained limited in availability in the market, with plans available largely focusing on longer validity periods.
The new regulations follow a consultation process that received 1,132 responses from stakeholders, as reported by The Times of India. Chadha linked the regulatory changes to the concerns he had raised in Parliament and described it as 'constructive politics'. He expressed gratitude to the Central government and TRAI for "resolving these concerns in the interest of greater consumer choice and convenience." The MP emphasized that issues raised by elected representatives, when supported by the public, could lead to regulatory action. According to ANI, TRAI stated that the amended framework aims to provide prepaid mobile users with more choices, allowing them to recharge according to their needs and financial capacity. The regulatory body noted that the amendment is aimed at expanding voice-and-SMS-only recharge options across various validity periods, allowing consumers to select plans that better suit their usage needs and budgets.
