India introduces new 30-day prepaid mobile recharge rules

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. These new rules introduce changes to the framework governing Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for voice and SMS services.

A key feature of the amendment is the introduction of 30-day recharge plans. This change aims to provide more flexibility for prepaid mobile users, particularly those on low budgets who primarily use their phones for voice calls and SMS. By moving away from previous cycles, such as 28-day periods, the new regulations reduce the annual requirement for consumers to make 13 monthly recharges to 12.

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for low-budget mobile users. He noted that the changes address concerns regarding limited and inflexible recharge options, offering more suitable choices for consumers who do not require data-heavy plans.