TRAI requires cheaper voice-and-SMS-only recharge plans at every validity of 30 days or less
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. TRAI said that after the Twelfth Amendment of 2024, telecom operators offered only a few voice-and-SMS-only special tariff vouchers, mostly with long validities. That left low-income users without affordable short-duration options.
The draft was published for consultation on 7 April 2026, drew 1,132 responses, and was discussed at an open house on 15 June 2026. The final amendment requires operators to offer special tariff vouchers exclusively for voice and SMS, at an appropriately reduced tariff, for each validity period of 30 days or less for which they offer voice-SMS-data vouchers. They must also offer such a voucher with a validity that renews on the same date every month, falling on the last day of the month where that date does not exist.
At least one longer-validity voice-and-SMS voucher must match the validities offered for combined packs. TRAI said the framework will give low-income consumers more options to recharge according to their needs and means, and more choice for those who do not want data bundled into their plans. The amendment has been placed on TRAI's website.
Quick checkWhat does TRAI's Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026 require operators to offer?- Free data for all prepaid users
- Voice-and-SMS-only recharge vouchers, at reduced tariffs, for validities of 30 days or less
- A ban on all long-validity plans
- Mandatory 5G for every subscriber
Show the answer ↓
Answer: B. The amendment mandates voice-and-SMS-only special tariff vouchers at appropriately reduced tariffs for each validity of 30 days or less, plus a same-date monthly renewal option.
Issued by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. If this summary and the source differ, the source is right — tell us and we will correct it.