Good news for prepaid mobile users: relief from inconvenient data-inclusive recharge plans is on the way. Customers will now have access to recharge plans valid for a full 30 days instead of the usual 28 days. Additionally, affordable voice-only plans will also be made available. On Sunday, the Central Government implemented the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. This move will spare customers from having to purchase 13 recharges a year. The government has directed the introduction of these new plans to provide relief to the country’s mobile subscribers. BJP MP Raghav Chadha stated that he had raised this demand in Parliament in February, and the government has accepted it. Previously, telecom company plans were valid for 28 days. However, following the implementation of new regulations, companies will now introduce recharge plans with a full 30-day validity instead of 28 days. Raghav, an Aam Aadmi Party MP, was the first to raise this issue in Parliament. On March 1, 2026, he had argued in Parliament against the 28-day plan structure. Raghav has expressed happiness that the government has now resolved this matter; he also shared a video explaining the benefits of the new rule. Under the new amendment, users will get 30-day plans instead of 28-day ones, meaning recharges will be required 12 times a year instead of 13. For plans with a 28-day validity, companies effectively charged customers for an extra month’s worth of service over the course of a year. Extending the validity of these plans to 30 days will alleviate the unnecessary financial burden on the general public.
Secondly, prepaid “voice-only” plans will be introduced for consumers who do not require data services. These plans will facilitate only incoming and outgoing calls, without including any data packs, thereby sparing customers from paying higher costs. Consequently, telecom companies like Airtel, Jio, Vodafone, and BSNL will be required to offer affordable voice and SMS plans. This will provide significant relief to people looking for affordable mobile services.
Congratulating prepaid mobile users, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha stated that this move would benefit consumers across the country. They will now have the option to recharge for 30 days instead of 28 days. This will also benefit users who primarily use their phones for incoming calls; specific packages for incoming calls and messaging will be available for them.
The MP further added, “Users who did not wish to opt for data recharges will now be able to access recharge packages exclusively for incoming calls and messaging.” “Funds will be drawn only to the extent required for the necessary facilities. I congratulate the government for this. This is a prime example of how a Member of Parliament raised the people’s demands in Parliament and the government fulfilled them.”
