Parliament Question: Recharge Policy for Telecom Services and Consumer Interests

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 595 ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2026 RECHARGE POLICY FOR TELECOM SERVICES AND CONSUMER INTERESTS †595. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the implementation of the policy by telecom companies to the date on which the scheme to suspend incoming services upon the expiry of a recharge validity introduced by the Telecom companies, the regulatory basis of it and the revenue generated by each telecom company since its implementation; (b) the steps being taken by the Government to address the difficulties faced by consumers who are required for various reasons to maintain two SIM cards and are consequently compelled to recharge both SIMs; (c) whether the Government proposes to frame stringent and explicit rules to ensure that telecom companies do not discontinue incoming services immediately upon the expiry of recharge; (d) whether the Government proposes issuing necessary directions to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to regulate the continuous increase in Telecom tariffs and to mandate a recharge validity of 30 days in place of the existing validity period of 28 days, if so, the time by which is to be implemented; and (e) if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) to (c) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 empowers the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to notify the rates of telecommunication services. As per the existing tariff framework, tariff for mobile and data services is under forbearance, except for services such as national roaming, rural fixed line services, mobile number portability and leased circuits. Subject to compliance with extant regulatory provisions, service providers are free to design and offer tariffs based on their understanding of the market situation and other commercial considerations. Competition exists in the market and the policies of the government and regulatory framework notified by TRAI has resulted in India having one of the lowest tariffs for subscribers of mobile services. Further, as per TRAI’s regulatory framework, there is no specific regulatory mandate for stoppage of incoming services after the expiry of recharge validity. (d) to (e) TRAI has already mandated vide Telecom Tariff Order, 1999 (66 th and 67 th Amendment) that every Telecom Service Provider shall offer at least one Plan Voucher, one Special 1Tariff Voucher and one Combo Voucher having a validity of thirty days. In addition, every Telecom Service Provider shall offer at least one Plan Voucher, one Special Tariff Voucher and one Combo Voucher which shall be renewable on the same date of every month and if the date of such renewal is not available in a month, the date of renewal shall be the last date of that month" ***** 2