The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, along with other telecom service providers, to make certain prepaid recharge plans much easier for customers to find. The direction, issued on October 1, 2026, requires operators to prominently display TRAI-mandated packs and Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) on their websites, mobile apps and exclusive points of sale. Operators have 30 days to comply with the order.
The move follows complaints from consumers who said it was difficult to locate some of the required recharge options. TRAI said its own examination also found that some operators had placed these plans under different categories or behind multiple pages and screens, making them less visible to subscribers.
Under the new direction, telecom companies must create a separate section titled “TRAI-Mandated Packs” on their websites and mobile applications. This section must appear as the first tab in the prepaid recharge area, and the same mandated vouchers must also be prominently displayed at operators’ exclusive points of sale.
The requirement is intended to make it easier for customers to identify plans that meet their specific calling, messaging and recharge needs without having to search through several categories.
The order also covers Special Tariff Vouchers, including options for customers who primarily need voice calling and SMS services. TRAI's regulations require operators to offer STVs with different validity periods, including 30 days or less, as well as longer validity options where applicable.
Earlier this year, TRAI had also introduced provisions for voice-and-SMS-only vouchers without bundled data. The regulator said such plans should have a proportionate tariff reduction compared with corresponding plans that include data.
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Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and other telecom providers have been given 30 days from October 1 to implement the latest direction and submit compliance reports to TRAI. The latest move is part of TRAI's broader effort to improve transparency around prepaid tariffs. By requiring mandated plans to appear prominently instead of being buried in recharge menus, the regulator aims to make it easier for subscribers to compare and access available options.