New TRAI rules will force operators to offer cheaper voice-and-SMS-only plans and genuine 30-day recharges. Here is what changes for mobile users.

The Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026 were notified on September 21-22. They take effect about 30 days later, around October 21, 2026.

For every bundled plan with a validity of 30 days or less, operators must offer a matching voice-and-SMS-only voucher at a proportionately lower price. At least one plan must renew on the same calendar date each month, and at least one longer-validity voice-only option must be available.

The rules also end the 28-day recharge cycle. With true 30-day validity, prepaid users will recharge 12 times a year instead of 13.

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha had raised both issues in Parliament earlier this year, pointing out that users who never touch mobile data were forced to pay for it.

TRAI received 1,132 stakeholder responses during consultation. The changes matter most for rural users, senior citizens and feature-phone owners who mainly call and text.