Mobile users who do not require internet data could soon have more prepaid recharge options. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced new rules requiring telecom operators to offer additional voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs).
TRAI released the Telecom Consumer Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026 in September following a consultation process that began with the draft amendment issued on April 7, 2026. The regulator said the move is aimed at improving consumer choice, particularly for users who prefer mobile services without bundled data.
What Are the New TRAI Recharge Rules?
Under the amended framework, telecom operators must provide voice-and-SMS-only STVs corresponding to every validity period of 30 days or less for which they offer a bundled STV containing voice, SMS and data.
The voice-and-SMS-only option must also come with an appropriate reduction in tariff compared with the corresponding bundled plan.
The new framework also requires operators to provide a voice-and-SMS-only STV that can be renewed on the same date every month. If that date does not exist in a particular month, the renewal date will be the last day of that month.
In addition, operators must offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only STV with a longer validity corresponding to longer-validity voice, SMS and data STVs offered by the operator.
Why Has TRAI Introduced These Changes?
TRAI said it had observed limited availability of voice-and-SMS-only STVs after the 12th Amendment in 2024. The regulator noted that the available options were largely concentrated around longer validity periods, leaving fewer shorter-duration choices for consumers.
To address this, TRAI released the draft 13th Amendment for consultation on April 7, 2026. A total of 1,132 responses were received from stakeholders, followed by an Open House Discussion on June 15. After considering the responses and conducting its own analysis, TRAI finalised the amendment.
The regulator said the revised tariff structure is intended to give consumers more flexibility to select a recharge according to their requirements and financial capacity, including those who do not want plans bundled with mobile data.
How Will Jio, Airtel and Vi Users Be Affected?
Users who primarily need calling and SMS services will have more prepaid recharge choices under the new framework. This is particularly relevant for customers who do not use mobile data or prefer not to pay for a data allowance they do not need.
However, the actual recharge prices and validity periods will continue to depend on the plans introduced by individual telecom operators.
The changes apply to operators offering bundled voice, SMS and data STVs and are intended to ensure corresponding voice-and-SMS-only choices are available across the specified validity periods.
Will 28-Day Recharge Plans Become 30-Day Plans?
No. The new TRAI regulations do not require telecom operators to convert existing 28-day recharge plans into 30-day plans.
The focus of the amendment is on expanding the availability of voice-and-SMS-only options, including monthly-renewable plans. Therefore, consumers should not assume that existing 28-day prepaid plans from Jio, Airtel, Vi or other operators will automatically become calendar-month plans.
For mobile users, the key change is the availability of more recharge choices based on their actual usage, particularly for those who only need calling and SMS services.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and is based on TRAI’s published regulations and official information. Recharge availability, pricing and validity will depend on individual telecom operators and may change. Consumers should check the latest plans on their operator’s official website or app before recharging.