If you don't recharge your prepaid mobile number for more than 90 days and leave it inactive, telecom companies can assign your number to another user. Once the SIM is deactivated and the number is assigned to someone else, you are left with nothing. You cannot re-allocate the number in your name. However, now, according to TRAI's new rules, you can keep your number active for just Rs 20. Let's see how…

Private telecom companies have increased the cost of their recharge plans starting July 2024. This has prevented most dual-SIM users from recharging their secondary number. However, if you have a secondary number that you want to keep active at a lower cost, you'll only need to spend ₹20. This means that by spending just ₹20, you can keep your Jio, Airtel, or Vodafone Idea number active for a longer period of time.

What is the formula?

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's guidelines, if a number hasn't been used or recharged for 90 days and has a balance of ₹20, the telecom operator will deduct ₹20 and keep the number active for the next 30 days. If you have a secondary number that you use less often or don't want to recharge frequently, you should keep a balance of ₹20 on it. Doing so can keep your number active for the next 30 days. That is, the number won't be deactivated for 120 days.

Alternatively, you can recharge your number with a cheap voice-only plan from Jio, Airtel, or Vodafone. Doing so will allow you to make calls to your number, as well as receive incoming and outgoing SMS. Private telecom companies offer voice-only plans ranging from 84 days to 365 days.

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