# TRAI mandates 30-day voice-only prepaid plans

2026-09-27T15:11:40+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

TRAI's new voice-and-SMS-only prepaid plans with 30-day validity, first raised by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha in March, are now mandatory for all telecom operators. The Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, issued on September 22, require operators to offer special tariff vouchers valid for 30 days or less. Chadha, who claimed credit for the change, welcomed it as an example of constructive politics. TRAI said the rules followed consultations that drew 1,132 responses. The regulator noted the plans target senior citizens and low-budget users who do not need data. The new vouchers must be proportionately cheaper than equivalent bundled plans. TRAI's new voice-and-SMS-only prepaid plans with 30-day validity, first raised by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha in March, are now mandatory for all telecom operators. The Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, issued on September 22, require operators to offer special tariff vouchers valid for 30 days or less. Chadha, who claimed credit for the change, welcomed it as an example of constructive politics. TRAI said the rules followed consultations that drew 1,132 responses. The regulator noted the plans target senior citizens and low-budget users who do not need data. The new vouchers must be proportionately cheaper than equivalent bundled plans.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

TRAI's new voice-and-SMS-only prepaid plans with 30-day validity, first raised by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha in March, are now mandatory for all telecom operators. The Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, issued on September 22, require operators to offer special tariff vouchers valid for 30 days or less. Chadha, who claimed credit for the change, welcomed it as an example of constructive politics. TRAI said the rules followed consultations that drew 1,132 responses. The regulator noted the plans target senior citizens and low-budget users who do not need data. The new vouchers must be proportionately cheaper than equivalent bundled plans.

## Coverage

- indiatoday.in (pro government) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/trai-voice-sms-vouchers-cheaper-prepaid-plans-raghav-chadha-ptag-3004128-2026-09-27?utm_source=rss>
  Leads with Raghav Chadha taking credit, frames as political victory for the MP
- english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report) <https://english.mathrubhumi.com/technology/trai-30-day-recharge-plans-voice-sms-only-plans-ugz77by8>
  Leads with TRAI's regulatory action, frames as consumer protection move

Tags: Raghav Chadha, telecom, TRAI
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