The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed Reliance Jio to discontinue certain tariff practices it found inconsistent with transparency norms, as per Mint report. The company has been given time until April 14 to comply with the order.
The directions require uniform publication of tariff plans across all platforms and removal of restrictions linked to specific devices. Non-compliance may invite penalties under the TRAI Act, 1997.
The action follows a review initiated in August 2025 after Jio withdrew entry-level prepaid plans offering 1 GB data per day. These plans were later made available through limited channels.
The regulator found that special tariff vouchers priced at ₹249 and ₹199 were sold only via Jio’s retail stores. Another voucher priced at ₹209 was accessible only through the MyJio application.
TRAI stated that restricting access in this manner does not meet transparency requirements, as consumers are unable to view or purchase plans uniformly across platforms such as websites, apps, retail outlets, and customer care channels.
Tariff plans bundled with devices such as JioPhone and JioBharat feature phones were also examined. These plans are not available to users on other smartphones.
The regulator said such arrangements amount to discriminatory treatment, as access to certain tariffs depends on the device being used.
It added that this could limit consumer choice and affect the ability of users to switch operators freely.
Jio stated that its tariff structures are based on defined criteria and should not be treated as discriminatory. It also said the 2020 directive relates to publication of tariffs and does not prescribe the manner of sale.
The company further noted that certain offerings, including first-time recharges and postpaid plans, may not be suitable for distribution across all channels.
TRAI has asked Jio to publish all tariff plans, including special vouchers, across all platforms and make device-linked plans available to all users.
Failure to comply may attract penalties starting at ₹1 lakh for the first instance, rising to ₹2 lakh for subsequent violations, along with additional daily fines for continued non-compliance.
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TRAI’s directive requires changes to tariff distribution and access across platforms and devices. Penalties may apply if the company does not meet the April 14 deadline.
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Published on: Apr 6, 2026, 10:35 AM IST
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