Trai Orders Jio to Eliminate Discriminatory Tariff Practices by April 14

Original: Trai asks Jio to end 'discriminatory' tariff plans, sets April 14 deadline

Business Standard•Apr 4, 20263 min

In a Nutshell

India's Telecom Regulatory Authority (Trai) has mandated Reliance Jio to stop certain tariff practices deemed discriminatory and lacking transparency. Jio must comply by April 14, ensuring uniform publication of plans and removing device-specific restrictions, or face penalties under the Trai Act.

Key Points

01Trai has identified Jio's tariff practices as discriminatory and lacking transparency.
02The deadline for compliance is set for April 14, 2024.
03Jio must publish all tariff plans across all platforms and eliminate device-specific restrictions.
04Failure to comply could result in fines up to ₹1 lakh for initial violations.
05Trai's investigation was initiated following Jio's discontinuation of certain entry-level prepaid plans.

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Full Summary

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has directed Reliance Jio, the largest telecom operator in India with over 500 million subscribers, to cease certain tariff practices that it considers discriminatory and non-transparent. Trai's directives require Jio to ensure that all tariff plans are uniformly published across various platforms and to remove restrictions on device-specific tariffs by April 14, 2024. This decision follows an investigation initiated in August 2025, which found that certain special tariff vouchers (STVs) were only available through specific channels, violating Trai's transparency norms. Additionally, Jio's device-specific tariffs linked to its low-cost JioPhone and JioBharat feature phones were flagged as discriminatory, limiting consumer choice. Trai emphasizes that all tariff offers should be accessible to users regardless of their device type. If Jio fails to comply, it could face penalties under the Trai Act, including fines starting at ₹1 lakh for initial violations and escalating for subsequent non-compliance.

Key Figures

₹1 lakh

Maximum fine for the first offence

500 million

Number of subscribers Jio has

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Why It Matters

These changes could enhance consumer access to tariff plans and promote fair competition in the telecom sector.

Who is affected

Jio subscribers and potential customers looking for transparent tariff options.

What to know

Consumers should monitor Jio's compliance and consider their options if tariff plans remain limited.

FAQ

Jio could face fines of up to ₹1 lakh for the first offence and ₹2 lakh for subsequent violations, along with additional daily penalties for continued non-compliance.

The investigation was initiated after Jio discontinued certain entry-level prepaid plans that were only available through specific retail channels, raising concerns about transparency and discrimination.

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