India's TRAI orders telecoms to add more voice and SMS-only recharge plans

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, mandating that all telecom operators add more voice and SMS-only recharge options. The regulations require Special Tariff Vouchers with appropriate tariff cuts for customers who do not need bundled data, and these vouchers must be offered for validity periods of 30 days or less as well as longer durations.

Renewals are to occur on the same calendar date each month, defaulting to the month’s final day when necessary. TRAI said the change responds to a drop in voice-and-SMS-only plans after the 2024 amendment, which limited short-duration choices for low-income consumers. The regulator consulted stakeholders, receiving 1,132 responses before finalising the rules. The new framework aims to give users greater flexibility and affordability in selecting recharge plans.