New Delhi Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has welcomed the new telecom recharge rules aimed at giving prepaid mobile users greater choice and flexibility, particularly those who primarily use their phones for voice calls and SMS.
Chadha described the move as good news for prepaid users and said the new provisions would offer more suitable options for consumers, including those on lower budgets.
The Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, notified by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), introduce changes to the framework governing Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for voice and SMS services.
30-Day Recharge Plans And Voice-SMS Options
Chadha highlighted the introduction of 30-day recharge options, saying these would reduce the need for consumers to make 13 monthly recharges in a year to 12.
In a post on X, Chadha said consumers would get 30-day recharge plans, voice and SMS-only plans for those who do not require data, and more suitable options for low-budget users who primarily need basic voice calling.
“Many of you had shared your concerns with me about limited and inflexible recharge options. I raised this issue in Parliament on 11th March, seeking greater choice and more affordable options for consumers,” he said.
Chadha also thanked the government and TRAI for addressing the concerns and said the changes would provide greater consumer choice and convenience.
The Rajya Sabha MP had earlier raised concerns over 28-day “monthly” recharge cycles and called for more consumer-friendly telecom options.
What The New TRAI Rules Say
Under the amended framework, telecom service providers will be required to offer more voice and SMS-only STVs for consumers who do not require bundled data services.
The rules require operators to offer voice and SMS-only STVs corresponding to each validity period of 30 days or less available for bundled voice, SMS and data STVs. The framework also provides for a monthly-renewable option, with the renewal date shifting to the last day of a month if the corresponding date does not exist.
The regulations are intended to give consumers greater flexibility to select prepaid plans according to their individual usage requirements. In particular, users who mainly need voice calls and SMS will have additional options without having to subscribe to bundled data services.
Rules Aim To Expand Consumer Choice
TRAI said the changes address the limited availability of shorter-validity voice and SMS-only vouchers, particularly for consumers who do not need data and want more flexible recharge options.
The amended regulations were notified on September 22, 2026, and will come into force 30 days after their publication in the Official Gazette.
Chadha said he had raised concerns about limited and inflexible recharge options in Parliament on March 11 and sought greater choice and affordability for consumers.
The regulatory changes now provide a wider framework for telecom users to select plans based on their specific requirements, including options focused solely on voice and SMS services.