Finding the right prepaid recharge plan could become easier for mobile users in India. TRAI has directed telecom operators to clearly display the recharge plans and Special Tariff Vouchers that they are required to offer under its rules.
The regulator has specifically asked telecom companies to create a separate “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section on their websites and mobile apps. This section must appear as the first tab in the prepaid recharge area. The same plans must also be displayed prominently at the operators' exclusive points of sale.
The direction was issued on October 1, 2026, and telecom operators have 30 days to submit their compliance report to TRAI.
Why Did TRAI Order This?
The reason behind TRAI’s Mandated recharge plan for JIO, AIrtel, and VI comes after multiple consistent complaints. TRAI received complaints from customers who were having difficulty finding some of the recharge plans that telecom companies are required to offer.
During complaint examination, TRAI also found that the websites and mobile apps of telecom operators and found that displayed prominently. In some cases, customers had to look through different categories or go through several pages or screens before finding them.
So, TRAI's latest direction is mainly about making these existing plans easier to find. If I say honestly, it is a good step for customers as operators intentionally hide the cheaper plans to oversell.
What Are TRAI-Mandated Packs?
TRAI-Mandated Packs are the specific prepaid recharge options that telecom operators are required to offer under TRAI's rules. These include 30-day plans, plans that can be renewed on the same date every month, and Voice and SMS-only plans.
For example, TRAI already requires every telecom operator to offer at least one 30-day plan and one plan that can be renewed on the same date every month.
TRAI has also required operators to offer Voice and SMS-only prepaid plans for customers who do not need mobile data. Under the latest rules, these include Voice and SMS-only options corresponding to the shorter validity periods of bundled Voice, SMS and data plans, a monthly renewal option, and at least one longer-validity option.
So when Jio, Airtel, Vi or another operator creates the new “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section, it is basically supposed to bring these required recharge options together in one clearly visible place. Customers will not be getting a completely new type of recharge called a “TRAI-Mandated Pack.” The label is simply being used for the section where these specific TRAI-required plans can be found.
What Will Change on Jio, Airtel and Vi Apps?
Once the operators implement the new TRAI rules, customers would see a separate and clearly visible “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section in the prepaid recharge area. Importantly, TRAI has said this section should be the first tab in that area. It means there is no way to hide such recharge packs.
The idea is that a customer should not have to search through multiple categories to find the plans covered by TRAI's requirements.
The exact appearance can still be different on Jio, Airtel, Vi or other operators' apps. TRAI has specified where the section should appear and what it should be called, rather than requiring every operator to use an identical app design. The same mandated plans must also be displayed prominently at the operators' exclusive points of sale.
Will TRAI-Mandated Packs Be Cheaper Recharge Plans?
Not necessarily. The October 1 direction is primarily about displaying and making existing mandated plans easier to find. It does not mean that every plan shown under the new section will be a newly launched recharge.
It also does not mean TRAI has fixed the price of these plans. Telecom operators still have flexibility to offer different tariffs and combinations of charges, validity and usage, subject to TRAI's requirements.
However, some of the plans that come under TRAI's requirements can be particularly useful for customers who do not need expensive bundled services. For example, the recently introduced Voice and SMS-only requirements are aimed at giving customers an option without bundled mobile data.
Will Voice and SMS-Only Plans Be Available in This Section?
Yes, they can be. TRAI's recent rules require telecom operators to offer certain Voice and SMS-only recharge options for customers who do not need mobile data.
The important point is that the Voice and SMS-only rule and the new “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section are not the same thing. The first one is about which plans operators have to offer, while the October 1 direction is about making such required plans easier for customers to find.
This means that if you are looking for a Voice and SMS-only recharge on Jio, Airtel, Vi or another operator, the new section should make it easier to find the relevant plan instead of searching through the operator's regular recharge categories.
For example, if an operator already has to provide a particular Voice and SMS-only option under TRAI's rules, customers should be able to find that option more easily once the operator adds the new “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section.
When Will the New Section Appear?
TRAI issued the direction on October 1, 2026, and gave telecom service providers 30 days to submit their compliance report. This means operators have until the end of the 30-day compliance period to implement the required changes and report compliance to TRAI.
The actual appearance of the section may therefore change over the coming weeks rather than appearing everywhere at exactly the same time.
What This Means for Mobile Users
For customers, the main change is simple: plans that telecom operators are required to offer should become easier to find. Instead of checking several recharge categories or searching through multiple screens, users should have a clearly visible section where these plans are listed.
This can be especially useful for people looking for specific options such as 30-day plans, monthly-renewal plans or Voice and SMS-only plans. TRAI already requires operators to make information about their available plans accessible to customers, and this latest direction is focused on improving how the mandated options are presented.
For Jio, Airtel, Vi and other telecom operators, the next step is to update their websites, apps and relevant sales channels to meet TRAI's new display requirement.
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