Prepaid mobile users to get 30-day validity, annual recharge cycle cut to 12: Raghav Chadha

In a relief to prepaid mobile customers, the government has moved to end the 28-day recharge cycle, allowing users to opt for plans with a full 30-day validity. The change, introduced under new telecom consumer protection rules, will effectively bring down the number of monthly recharges required in a year from 13 to 12.

Welcoming the move, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said it was “good news for prepaid mobile users in India”. “Good news for prepaid mobile users in India. The government just introduced Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026,” Chadha said in a post on X.

The Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, also provide for voice- and SMS-only plans, giving consumers who primarily use their phones for calling more affordable options, Chadha said.

Ending the 28-day recharge cycle

The move addresses a long-standing concern over prepaid plans marketed as monthly but offering only 28 days of validity. Under that structure, users effectively needed to recharge 13 times in a year rather than 12.

Chadha said consumers would now have access to 30-day plans, along with voice- and SMS-only options for those who do not require mobile data.

The BJP MP said consumers had raised concerns with him over limited and inflexible recharge choices. He had taken up the issue in Parliament on March 11, when he was an AAP Rajya Sabha MP.

At the time, Chadha had questioned the practice of offering 28-day validity on plans positioned as monthly recharges, arguing that it effectively required consumers to make an additional recharge every year.

“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,” Chadha said.

He also thanked the government and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for addressing the issue, saying the changes would provide consumers with greater choice and convenience.

The new framework is also aimed at consumers on tighter budgets, particularly those who primarily need voice calling services and do not require data, by providing voice- and SMS-only recharge options.