Raghav Chadha Raises Prepaid Recharge Issue In Parliament

MP Raghav Chadha Raises Prepaid Recharge Validity Issue In Parliament

Parliament discussion highlights prepaid recharge concerns

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha raised concerns in Parliament regarding prepaid mobile recharge policies and their impact on ordinary telecom users.

Chadha stated that the structure of prepaid recharge plans has created an additional financial burden on millions of mobile subscribers across the country. His remarks reflected concerns shared by a large number of mobile users.

28-day recharge cycle explained in Parliament

The issue relates to telecom companies offering prepaid plans with a validity of 28 days instead of a full 30-day monthly cycle.

When calculated across a year, twelve cycles of 28 days account for only 336 days. This leaves about 29 days uncovered within the calendar year.

As a result, consumers often need to recharge their mobile plans 13 times in a year instead of the expected 12 cycles, increasing the overall cost for users.

Mobile services linked to daily financial activity

The MP pointed out that mobile connectivity is no longer limited to voice communication.

Mobile numbers are widely used for banking transactions that require one-time passwords (OTP). If incoming services stop due to the absence of a recharge, users may face difficulty completing financial transactions.

Mobile numbers are also linked to various government services and welfare schemes, including ration distribution and other benefits.

Demand for extended incoming call validity

During the discussion, Chadha proposed that incoming calls and OTP services should remain active even after the validity of a prepaid recharge expires.

He suggested that incoming services should continue for up to one year so that users can continue receiving essential messages related to banking and government services.

The proposal aims to prevent disruption of important communication for subscribers who may delay recharging their plans.

Proposal on mobile number validity period

The MP also raised concerns about the current rules governing the deactivation of mobile numbers.

Under the existing guidelines of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), a mobile number can be disconnected if there is no activity such as calls or recharges for 90 days.

Chadha suggested that mobile numbers should not be reassigned or permanently deactivated for at least three years. According to him, such a measure could provide relief to prepaid mobile users.

Issue reflects wider concerns among subscribers

The discussion highlighted the growing dependence on mobile connectivity for banking services, authentication systems, and access to government schemes.

The points raised in Parliament brought attention to how prepaid recharge policies affect everyday mobile users, particularly those from low-income and middle-income groups.