Raghav Chadha Calls 28-Day Mobile Recharge System ‘Unfair’ to Consumers

Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha member from the Aam Aadmi Party, has once again raised a significant issue in Parliament affecting millions of mobile phone users across India. The issue relates to prepaid mobile recharge plans and the practices followed by telecom companies. During a discussion in the upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, Chadha highlighted concerns about telecom companies offering 28-day recharge plans instead of monthly plans and allegedly blocking incoming calls once a recharge expires. He argued that such practices place an unnecessary burden on consumers. It now remains to be seen what action the Government of India will take on the matter. “Why Do We Need 13 Recharges in 12 Months?” Speaking in the House, Chadha said that mobile phones are no longer a luxury but a necessity for ordinary citizens. He stressed that telecom companies should maintain fairness and transparency in their dealings with consumers. Chadha questioned why users are required to recharge 13 times a year instead of 12. Since many telecom plans are valid for 28 days, consumers must recharge more frequently within a calendar year. According to him, this system effectively forces users to pay for an additional recharge annually. Concern Over Blocking of Incoming Calls Chadha also raised concerns about the practice of blocking incoming calls after a recharge expires. He said it may be understandable to block outgoing calls once a plan ends, but blocking incoming calls is unreasonable. He explained that once a recharge lapses, people are unable to receive calls or even important messages such as one-time passwords (OTPs). This situation, he said, can leave individuals helpless during emergencies. Chadha described the practice as arbitrary and called for it to be stopped. He suggested that incoming calls should remain active for at least one year so that citizens do not lose their basic ability to communicate. Calls 28-Day Recharge Plans a “Scam” Chadha further criticized the 28-day recharge model, describing it as unfair to consumers. He pointed out that while a year consists of 12 months, the 28-day cycle results in 13 recharges annually (28 days × 13 = 364 days). He demanded that recharge plans should instead be based on calendar months—30 or 31 days—so that consumers are not forced to pay for an extra recharge every year. MP Continues to Raise Public Interest Issues Raghav Chadha has recently been in the spotlight for raising several public interest issues in Parliament. His interventions have drawn attention on social media, where many people have praised his efforts. In recent sessions, Chadha also raised concerns about gig workers, including issues related to delivery workers’ wages and working conditions. He has previously highlighted the problem of adulterated food products in the market and called for stronger action. Additionally, he urged the government to introduce a law linking salary revisions to inflation. According to Chadha, between the financial years 2018 and 2026, the real income of salaried Indians is expected to decline by about 16 percent due to rising inflation.