Zerodha mentioned the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) quarterly reports as the source for this data. According to that data, people were on average paying Rs 84 for the prepaid service in India in 2020 and Rs 244 for the postpaid service. This was a gap of Rs 160. In 2025, this gap reduced to Rs 5 as people were paying Rs 199 for the postpaid plans on average and Rs 194 for the prepaid plans.

Next Round of Tariff Hike

The telcos are looking to monetise the investments they have made over the years on the mobile networks and fiber deployment. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, last time engaged in a tariff hike back in 2024. The markets expect that the next tariff hike will take place some time in 2026. This will also help in maximising the valuation of Reliance Jio, which is looking to list in the stock exchanges in the coming months.

With the tariff hikes, telcos get to boost their average revenue per user (ARPU). The next round of tariff hikes would likely bring the gap between prepaid and postpaid categories closer. It is something the consumers won’t like, but the telcos will love. The investors want growing returns on the business, and with the listing, this pressure will also be on Reliance Jio every quarter to maintain.

Also Read: JioHotstar Launches TADKA to Tap Growing Demand for Short-Form Mobile Entertainment

Investor Pricing Expectations Trigger Strategic Shift

Jio Platforms, India’s largest telecom operator by market share, has been in discussions for over a month with global technology firms, sovereign wealth funds and private equity investors regarding the structure and valuation of its multi-billion-dollar initial public offering (IPO).

Investors are understood to be seeking a higher price band for the issue to maximise returns. However, Reliance is said to be cautious about aggressive pricing, citing concerns over the possibility of weak post-listing performance that could impact retail investors.

“Shareholders want to price the IPO to perfection, by selling shares at a higher price band. However, RIL is of the view that this may hurt retail investors in case of a listing day loss, the people said, according to the report.

Retail Investor Protection at the Centre of RIL’s Approach

“There is an inherent conflict of interest, which is unique to Jio,” said one of the persons cited in the report. “Shareholders want to price the issue as high as possible. But that creates two risks. First, the issue could become too large for markets to absorb.”

This is “especially if it crosses $4 billion in the current environment. Second, there is a real possibility of a weak listing that impacts retail investors,” the person reportedly added.

A second person said Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani has consistently prioritised investor protection. “Mukesh Ambani’s priority from day one has been to protect retail investors,” this person reportedly said. “There must be room for upside in the stock price post listing. Therefore, Reliance now plans to let the market determine the price post listing and PE investors can later sell in the open market if they wish.”

Fresh Issue Model to Dilute Existing Shareholders

Under the revised structure, the IPO proceeds would flow directly to the company, while existing shareholders would see proportional dilution of their stakes. “About Rs 25,000 crore could be utilised for debt payments, and rest of the funds could be used for other purposes, depending on the requirements,” another person reportedly said.

The move could result in a lower valuation than the previously reported USD 133-154 billion range. Reliance’s current 67 percent stake in Jio would also be diluted under the fresh issue structure, unlike the earlier OFS proposal. However, RIL is said to be agreeable to this plan, people familiar with the matter were quoted as saying.

Jio is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) within the next one to two weeks. The revised structure could delay the listing timeline by about a month to July, though timelines remain subject to market conditions.

Jio IPO Filing Expected Within Weeks

Earlier, Jio had proposed an OFS under which its 14 equity investors would each pare 8-8.5 percent of their holdings, resulting in an overall equity dilution of nearly 2.8 percent. None of the investors was expected to make a complete exit, according to previous reports.

In 2020, Jio Platforms raised over Rs 1.5 lakh crore (USD 20 billion) from 13 marquee global investors including Google, Meta, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Vista Equity Partners, KKR, Silver Lake, General Atlantic, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, TPG, L Catterton, Intel Capital and Qualcomm Ventures. The fundraising helped the company become net debt-free and supported expansion into 5G, broadband, digital services and enterprise solutions.

Also Read: Reliance Plans Major Foray Into LEO Satellite Space With Billions in Investment

Going forward, Jio is expected to focus on growth areas such as home broadband, enterprise services, AI infrastructure, deep-tech capabilities, as well as 5G and satellite connectivity.

What the CARE Ratings Filing Revealed

The CARE Ratings report showed that Vodafone Idea had originally planned to allocate Rs 12,750 crore from the FPO proceeds toward network infrastructure expansion this included setting up new 4G sites, expanding the capacity of existing and new 4G sites, and deploying new 5G sites.

However, the allocation for this objective was revised downward to Rs 10,492 crore. CARE Ratings stated that Rs 2,258 crore was reallocated toward payment of deferred spectrum dues to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) along with related GST obligations.

According to the filing, the reallocation was carried out pursuant to a resolution passed by Vodafone Idea’s Board of Directors on May 30, 2025.

Vodafone Idea Reduced Planned Network Expansion Allocation

The filing showed that the revised allocation for network expansion activities stood at Rs 10,492 crore compared to the originally proposed Rs 12,750 crore.

CARE Ratings said the network expansion objective covered:

• Setting up new 4G sites
• Expanding capacity of existing and new 4G sites
• Deploying new 5G sites

The monitoring agency report also stated that Vodafone Idea utilised the entire revised amount of Rs 10,492 crore toward this objective by the end of FY26.

During the fourth quarter of FY26 alone, Vodafone Idea incurred Rs 1,487.81 crore toward network expansion activities.

Spectrum Payment Allocation Increased

Following the reallocation, the amount earmarked toward deferred spectrum payments and related GST obligations increased from Rs 2,175.32 crore to Rs 4,433.32 crore. CARE Ratings stated that Vodafone Idea fully utilised the revised amount allocated for spectrum-related payments by the end of the quarter.

The filing further showed that Vodafone Idea incurred Rs 0.52 crore toward this objective during Q4 FY26. According to the monitoring agency report, Vodafone Idea has fully utilised the entire FPO proceeds amounting to Rs 17,614.20 crore.

The filing showed that:

• Rs 10,492 crore was utilised toward network expansion
• Rs 4,433.32 crore was utilised toward spectrum-related payments
• Rs 2,688.88 crore was utilised toward general corporate purposes

CARE Ratings also noted that the amount allocated toward general corporate purposes had already been fully utilised by Q3 FY25, and there was no utilisation under this category during Q4 FY26.

No Delay or Deviation Reported by CARE Ratings

CARE Ratings stated in its report that there were no deviations from the objects mentioned in the offer document the monitoring agency also said there was no change in the means of finance for the disclosed objectives and no major deviation compared to earlier monitoring agency reports.

Also Read: Vodafone Group Weighs Stake Transfer to Support Vodafone Idea’s Fundraising: Report

According to the filing, no government or statutory approvals were required with reference to the objectives mentioned in the FPO document. CARE Ratings also stated that there were no favourable or unfavourable events affecting the viability of the stated objectives.

The report further noted that there was no delay in implementation of the stated objectives. The completion timelines for both network expansion activities and spectrum payment-related obligations remained within Fiscal 2026, while the general corporate purpose objective had already been completed within Fiscal 2025.

Vodafone Idea Raised Rs 18,000 Crore Through FPO

Vodafone Idea had raised Rs 18,000 crore through its Further Public Offer in April 2024. According to the CARE Ratings filing, the net proceeds from the issue stood at Rs 17,614.20 crore.

If you have already figured it out, we are talking about the Airtel Adobe Express Premium. This is a premium servciec from Adobe, which allows people to create on the go. This is a great tool for people looking to create graphics and designs. Airtel Express Premium also allows you to create with AI (artificial intelligence). For now, the service costs Rs 4,000 for a year. If you want it for free, then you can get it being an Airtel customer. Let’s take a look at what are the details of the offer.

Bharti Airtel x Adobe Express Premium for a Year

This offer has already been talked about a lot. It is offered to Airtel customers and if you have not yet claimed it, you can go to the Airtel Thanks app and find the offer on the Manage page of their app. The offer redemption period is January 29, 2026 to January 28, 2027. The offer must be claimed within the time period which will no longer be available to claim.

Customers need to sign up or sign in on Adobe Express via an Active Google ID, Apple ID, or Email ID. The customer needs to log in via the same account used for activation to access the subscription on any device.

Adobe Express Premium will not auto-renew after the 12-month period ends. You can, however, choose to renew manually if you want by adding billing details.

Airtel explains One Airtel plan as a plan which allows customers to combine multiple Airtel services into a single bundled plan. Customers can bundle Airtel Postpaid Mobile, Airtel Wi-Fi, and Airtel DTH/IPTV connections all into a single plan. This saves the customer from the hassle of paying multiple bills and staying on track of all of them.

What Happens to Existing Airtel Black Customers?

The existing Airtel Black customers will continue with their current plan if they choose to make no modifications for the forseeable future. However, in case any service is added, removed or modified, then customer may be migrated to the One Airtel plan. The website of Airtel still shows Airtel Black branding on the categories. This could be so that the customers suddenly don’t get confused by a new name.

Airtel has said that customers need to book at least two of its services to get into a One Airtel plan. To add, remove or modify a service, users can head to the Airtel Thanks app or go to the website.

So essentially, this service is like Airtel Black only. The reason for a rebrandiing is unclear. Airtel will likely offer One Airtel in every region where it is offering Airtel Black. We will bring more details around the One Airtel plan in the coming days, so stay tuned.

Bharti Airtel Rs 77 Data Voucher

Airtel’s Rs 77 data voucher comes with 5GB of data. This data can be used only for a period of seven days. After that any unused data will expire. You can use this data voucher on top of any prepaid plan from Airtel with service validity. It is available in all the telecom circles of India. The data offered to the consumers is 4G data, and not 5G.

This Rs 77 4G data voucher will not offer you anything extra on top of it. The Rs 77 plan is a great data voucher for someone who wants to use moderate amounts of additional data for days to come without worrying about the voucher expiring. The affordable data vouchers today actually expire in no time and also offer very less data. With the Rs 77 plan, you are effectively paying Rs 11 for each day of validity, and the cost of each GB of data for you is Rs 15.4. So both the costs mentioned here are actually pretty okay and can act as a great data cushion for your regular validity plan.

PNB Declares Reliance Telecom Loan Account as Fraud

In its disclosure to stock exchanges, Reliance Communications stated that PNB’s Fraud Examination Committee had also decided to classify Smt. Grace Thomas, a non-executive non-independent director of RCOM and erstwhile director of Reliance Telecom, as “fraud” in connection with the account.

“This is to inform you that Reliance Telecom Limited (RTL), a subsidiary of Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM), has received the aforementioned letter from PNB, vide which, PNB has, inter alia, stated that ‘Fraud Examination Committee’ of PNB has decided to classify the loan account of Reliance Telecom Limited and Smt. Grace Thomas, Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of RCOM (in her capacity as erstwhile director of RTL), as ‘fraud’,” the exchange filing from Reliance Communications read.

PNB Details Transactions Between RTL and RCOM

According to the bank’s “reasoned order”, the amount involved in the account was stated at Rs 201.51 crore. PNB alleged multiple irregularities, including diversion and round-tripping of funds, fictitious debtor transactions, and routing of loans through related entities. The order cited findings from a forensic audit, which alleged that collections amounting to Rs 1,110.50 crore were circulated among Reliance group entities through a series of transactions that inflated turnover and balance-sheet figures.

The bank further alleged that Reliance Telecom transferred Rs 221.93 crore to Reliance Communications (RCOM) out of the loans received by RTL, part of which (Rs 110 crore) was allegedly invested in mutual funds. The forensic audit also flagged transactions involving several group and related entities, alleging diversion of funds and irregular journal entries.

PNB also cited forensic audit findings claiming that RCOM and its subsidiaries, including Reliance Telecom, received advances aggregating Rs 31,580 crore from member banks, of which Rs 13,667.73 crore (44 percent) was allegedly utilised for repayment of loans and obligations to banks and financial institutions, while Rs 12,692.31 crore (41 percent) was allegedly paid to connected parties.

“RCOM holds 78.8 percent share in RTL and RIIL holds 21.2 percent shares in RTL. Total payment by RTL to RCOM during the Review Period was INR 3,742.47 crores and total receipts were INR 537.83 crores. RTL promoters did not infuse any equity during the Review Period and all the contribution was in the form of short-term loans,” PNB’s reasoned order dated April 22, 2026, said.

The forensic audit additionally alleged that nearly 97 percet of the transactions examined were conducted through non-consortium banks, with only 3 percent routed through consortium banks.

“As per Forensic Auditor’s analysis of RTL’s transactions with Consortium and Non-Consortium Banks, out of total transactions, 97 percent of the transactions were with non-consortium banks and the balance 3 percent of transactions are with consortium banks,” the PNB’s order said.

Reliance Communications Cites Ongoing Insolvency Proceedings

Reliance Communications, however, maintained that both RCOM and Reliance Telecom are currently undergoing corporate insolvency resolution proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. The company said resolution plans for both entities have already been approved by their respective committees of creditors and are awaiting approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai Bench.

The company further stated that the transactions referred to in PNB’s letter relate to the period prior to the commencement of the insolvency resolution process and are subject to adjudication under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. It added that certain avoidance applications connected to the transactions have already been filed before the NCLT and remain sub judice.

RCOM also referred to protections available under Sections 14 and 32A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, asserting that upon approval of the resolution plans, the corporate debtors may receive immunity against liabilities for offences committed prior to the insolvency commencement date, subject to statutory conditions.

PNB Continues Fraud Action Against Some Former Directors

The PNB order noted that show-cause notices had been issued in March 2026 to Reliance Telecom and several former directors, including Satyendra Mohanlal Sarupria, Grace Thomas, Dagdulal Kasturchand Jain, Gautam Bhailal Doshi, Sateesh Seth and Prakash Shenoy. The bank stated that only Prakash Shenoy and Gautam Doshi had submitted responses.

In his response reproduced in the order, former director Prakash Shenoy denied involvement in operational or financial decisions, stating that he served as a non-executive director for compliance purposes and was not involved in the day-to-day management of the company. The response also challenged the forensic audit findings and raised objections on grounds of natural justice and disclosure of documents.

After examining replies and records, the committee decided not to pursue fraud classification against former directors Prakash Shenoy and Gautam Doshi, noting that both had served as independent or non-executive directors and had submitted communications from other banks, including SBI, IDBI Bank and Bank of India, where similar fraud proceedings had either been withdrawn or their names removed from RBI reporting systems.

However, the committee decided to proceed with fraud classification against former directors Sateesh Seth, Grace Thomas, Satyendra Mohanlal Sarupriya and Dagdulal Kasturchand Jain. The order stated that no responses to the show-cause notices were received from these individuals and that some of them had already been reported in earlier fraud filings with the Reserve Bank of India.

The cheaper variant of the laptop is priced at Rs 69,900 in India with 256GB of storage. Thus, Apple might discontinue this variant, and might only sell the 512GB variant in the coming days. This is to sustain margins on the product and keep sales high for premium devices. The MacBook Neo with 512GB of internal storage is priced at Rs 79,900 in India.

Tim Cook, on April 30’s earnings call said that Apple is facing supply chain constraints for the MacBook Neo. The rising DRAM prices are a major factor in this. This could lead to the company making this decision. Note that Apple has not yet commented anything on this and the base variant with 256GB of internal storage is still available for the users globally.

There are no hidden charges by the telco for this service. You just need to pay what you are charged the first time, but there is GST on plans. From JioMart, you can get the JioPC Starter Pack, which will bundle a wireless keyboard and mouse combo for the users. Along with this, you will et some days of JioPC access as well.

Reliance Jio bundles AI (artificial intelligence) powered features as well for JioPC users. Let’s take a look at the money that users need to pay with this plan.

JioPC Starter Pack Price

JioPC Starter Pack will come with Ant FKBRI05 wireless keyboard and mouse (black) combo. It will also bundle JioPC access (AI ready computer) for 50 days for the users. Further, there will be Rs 1000 worth future JioPC recharge benefits as well. The price of this JioPC Starter Pack is Rs 999.

You will get the keyboard and the mouse delivered to your house. The 50 days JioPC subscription code will be sent to you via SMS within 24 hours. You can redeem the code on the link received via SMS. To make this work, just connect the keyboard and the mouse to the Set-Top Box (STB) and launch JioPC to activate the service.

JioPC aims to make cloud computing accessible for Indian consumers. With millions of consumers already utilising the telco’s Home services, JioPC is a add-on which they can benefit from. Jio will also be able to monetise the services even further by upselling JioPC to the high-paying customers who already have JioHome connection, and increase its ARPU (average revenue per user).

Further, funds of Rs 221.93 crore were transferred from Reliance Telecom Limited to Reliance Communications, a portion of which was then invested into mutual funds (MF). Additionally, the company misused the funds raised via member banks for connected parties payments rather than being used for intended business purposes.

Another major claim by PNB is that amount worth Rs 1,347.70 crore found in the books of Reliance Communications was fictitious. Note that Reliance Communications and its susbsidary Reliance Telecom Limited are now under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). These company frauds are from a time before the insolvency proceedings took place. PNB, will however, report the fraud to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Bullet Microdrama App Content Now Available on Vi Movies and TV

The move comes amid rising demand for mobile-first entertainment content among Indian audiences, according to the telco. Microdramas, known for their short episodic storytelling format, are witnessing rapid adoption globally and in India, driven by increasing smartphone consumption and changing viewing habits.

India’s Microdrama Market Sees Rapid Growth

According to industry estimates cited by the company, India accounted for nearly 11 per cent of global microdrama platform downloads in the first quarter of 2025, reaching around 35 million downloads. The domestic microdrama market is projected to grow to USD 1.5 billion by 2026 and further expand to USD 4.5 billion by 2030.

“Microdramas are rapidly gaining popularity among India’s smartphone-first audiences,” Vi said, adding that “the growth will be driven by rising adoption in Tier II and Tier III markets, younger audiences, and evolving content consumption habits. With daily watch time of around 40-90 minutes with completion rate exceeding 90 percent, the category demonstrates strong engagement.”

Vi Strengthens Free OTT Content Portfolio

“This launch also reinforces Vi’s focus on strengthening its free content portfolio,” the telco said. The platform currently aggregates content from over 20 OTT platforms, including JioHotstar, SonyLIV, ZEE5 and Amazon MX Player, alongside more than 400 live television channels.

Multilingual Titles Across Romance, Thriller and Comedy Genres

The newly introduced microdrama catalogue on Vi Movies and TV will feature multilingual titles across genres such as romance, thriller, drama and comedy. Initial offerings include Rickshaw Romeo (Hindi and English), AutoRaja (Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English), Lady Boss (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English), Comedy Couple (Hindi), and Sweet 16 (Bengali), among others, catering to a wide range of regional and language preferences.

Vi strengthens its content aggregator position

“With this launch, Vi continues to strengthen its position as a content aggregator, offering a wide range of entertainment formats through a single platform, while staying aligned with evolving consumer preferences,” the release said.

Also in Microdrama Segment

Jio’s Tadka: JioHotstar Launches TADKA to Tap Growing Demand for Short-Form Mobile Entertainment

TADKA for Short-Form Entertainment

“Explore Tadka, an all-new tab on the JioHotstar app for dumdaar micro shows packed with mazedaar entertainment. Perfect for short escapes from everyday life, anytime and anywhere. Toh laga Tadka On JioHotstar,” the JioHotstar App description reads.

Unlike abridged versions of traditional series, TADKA content is developed exclusively for short attention spans. The format blends genres such as romance, drama, comedy, and thrillers into tightly paced episodic storytelling, focusing on relatable, youth-centric themes rooted in everyday relationships and aspirations.

Expanding beyond the conventional Mumbai-centric narrative landscape, the platform brings regional stories to the forefront, featuring settings such as Indore and Lucknow. Early titles include Mitti Ka Sher and Startup Junoon, reflecting a broader cultural and geographic diversity. The content is being offered in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, to cater to a wide audience base.

Over 100 Original Titles Already Available

At launch, TADKA features over 100 original titles, with plans to scale up to more than 1,000 by the end of the year. Supported by over 50 production houses, the initiative is positioned to create new opportunities for content creators through a flexible, high-volume storytelling model.

More Than 50 Production Houses Join

JioHotstar has onboarded more than 50 production houses, including M5 Entertainment, Salt Media, Ananta Productions and newer entrants, in a non-exclusive model aimed at expanding the ecosystem rather than locking in partners, according to a Moneycontrol report dated April 13, 2026.

JioHotstar App Description:

“Tadka On JioHotstar

Dumdaar micro shows for mazedaar entertainment available exclusively on a brand new tab called Tadka on the JioHotstar app.

Gripping micro shows like Mitti Ka Sher, Rukega Nahi Saala, Undercover Boss – Scam Smash, Chawl Ke Sultan – Billionaire Tenant, Proxy War – The Human Calculator.

Genres like Betrayal, Rivalry, Romance, Contract Marriage, Reconciliation, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Scandal, Glow-up, Hidden Superpowers, Love Triangle, Mafia, Rags to Riches, Revenge, Scam, Start-up, Thriller, Office Politics and more.”

TSMC, the primary manufacturer of Apple’s silicon chips is facing hardships to meet the current demands due to AI boom. Thus, to ensure that its supply chain doesn’t get affected, Apple is now working with Intel for the iPhone chips production. This will create a win-win scenario for the companies.

Apple could give continous large scale business to Intel for the iPhone chips. The demand for iPhones hasn’t gone down, and is only growing globally. Intel will soon start manufacturing iPhone chips, said a report from the WallStreetJournal (WSJ). Once a dominant player in the chip making industry, Intel has been losing business to competitors. Thus, this deal from Apple would be a breath of fresh air for the company, and the US government as well, which is a large stakeholder in the chipmaker.

BSNL SIM Booking Processing via QR Code

BSNL SIM card will now be able to come through QR code only. Take a look at the QR code below, just scan it and follow the steps mentioned below.

You can simply scan the QR code for getting a SIM card. Otherwise, you can also go to the website – sahaj.bsnl.co.in/skyc. This is currently live in the UP East telecom circle. BSNL E-KYC portal will help you to do the KYC on the go. Currently, you had to go to the shop of the telecom operator and then fill out the details, do a physical KYC and then you would get the SIM card.

But now, BSNL is making this process seamless. However, you will have to go and get the SIM card physically. The state-run telecom company doesn’t home deliver the SIM cards. This is for a good reason as well.

SIM cards are an important asset. They allow you to make calls and become your digital identity. If they are misplaced when delivering or are delivered to the wrong person, they can be put to the wrong use. That is why, you will have to go to your nearest BSNL customer service center to get the SIM card from the company. If you try this out, let us know about the experience in the comments.

Also Read: Kumar Mangalam Birla Appointed Chairman of Vodafone Idea

Move May Replace Fresh Capital Infusion

The proposed share transfer would serve as an alternative to a fresh cash infusion by Vodafone Group and is expected to support Vodafone Idea’s ongoing efforts to secure debt funding, the report said, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Vi May Monetise Treasury Shares Later

Vodafone Idea could later sell the treasury shares to raise additional capital for clearing government liabilities and funding expansion plans. The telecom operator has been seeking to regain market share amid intense competition from rivals, including Reliance Jio Infocomm, the report added.

Also Read: Vodafone Idea’s AGR Dues Finalised at Rs 64,046 Crore Following DoT Review

Government Cuts Vi’s AGR-Linked Dues

Vodafone Idea recently said the Indian government had reduced its long-pending dues linked to spectrum fees and adjusted gross revenue (AGR) liabilities to Rs 64,046 crore from Rs 87,695 crore earlier. The dues arose from a prolonged legal dispute over the government’s method of calculating AGR, a key metric used to determine licence fees and other statutory payments payable by telecom operators.

Also Read: SBI-Led Consortium Weighs Rs 25,000-Crore Loan for Vodafone Idea After AGR Relief

Debt Talks with Lenders Continue

Vodafone Idea is also reportedly in discussions with lenders to raise nearly Rs 350 billion in debt. CNBC-TV18 had earlier reported that State Bank of India (SBI) is likely to lead a lending consortium. A majority of the borrowing is expected to be through term loans, according to the report.

Details of the proposal are still being worked out, and the structure of the deal could change, the sources were quoted as saying.

BSNL Rs 225 Plan: Thoughts

The thing with Rs 225 plan from BSNL is that it doesn’t come with any add-on benefits. There’s plenty of data, and the plan is comparatively cheaper than what you would get from the private telcos. However, if you are in a great 4G coverage zone of BSNL, then this plan can definitely make a difference for you.

The Rs 225 plan is meant for users who have plenty of short-term data needs. Otherwise, you can get cheaper plans from the telco with service validity. BSNL has even deployed 4G in many areas of India. The 4G network is only expanding in coverage and capacity. The telco is, in fact, waiting for a further approval from the cabinet to issue orders for more sites to TCS (Tata Consultancy Services), Tejas Networks, and C-DoT (Centre for Development of Telematics).

The Rs 225 plan can be recharged from the official website of BSNL as well as the mobile app of the company. The private telcos don’t have any such plan at this price range. Their plans, which cost more than this do not even offer 2GB of daily data. So if you are looking for value, this is the one.

Also Read: Vodafone Idea Launches 5G Services in Goa

Vi expands 5G network to Puducherry

To expand its 5G services, Vi said it has been prioritising key markets, including industrial hubs, high data consumption centres and emerging urban clusters. “Puducherry, often referred to as the ‘French Riviera of the East’, stands out as a prominent tourism destination as well as a growing hub for education and commerce, driving strong data demand from both residents and visitors,” the telco said on Friday, May, 8, 2026.

Focus on high-demand and tourism-driven markets

According to the telecom operator, the 5G deployment has been designed to deliver faster data speeds, improved network performance and seamless connectivity, particularly in densely populated locations, major tourist destinations and commercial hubs.

Commenting on the launch, Sai Venkataraman, Circle Business Head – Tamil Nadu, Vi, said, “We are accelerating the expansion of Vi’s 5G network as we strengthen our footprint across key markets. Following our launch in Chennai, the rollout in Puducherry marks an important step in this journey. Our expansion is guided by a clear focus on prioritising high demand locations spanning high data consumption centres as well as areas with significant footfall including key tourism and commercial hubs ensuring a consistent and enhanced network experience for our users.”

“With this launch, Vi aims to enhance connectivity in Puducherry, catering to the growing demand for high-speed data services,” the official release said.

IndiaAI and ICMR Join Hands for AI-Powered Healthcare

The partnership aims to build a nationally integrated and interoperable AI ecosystem for healthcare by combining IndiaAI’s technology infrastructure and AI capabilities with ICMR’s expertise in biomedical research and public health. The collaboration is expected to accelerate innovation, research, and deployment of AI-driven healthcare solutions across the country.

“Under this collaboration, both institutions will leverage their complementary strengths, IndiaAI’s compute infrastructure, dataset platforms, and AI skilling initiatives, alongside ICMR’s biomedical research expertise and its Medical Information Data for AI Solutions (MIDAS) framework to enable innovation, research, and deployment of AI-driven healthcare solutions,” the Ministry of Electronics and IT said in an official release on May 7, 2026.

AIKosh Dataset Platform

Under the agreement, ICMR will contribute anonymised and ethics-approved health research datasets, AI models, and toolkits developed under its Medical Information Data for AI Solutions (MIDAS) framework to the AIKosh platform. The move is expected to improve access to high-quality biomedical datasets for researchers, startups, and innovators.

Compute Access

IndiaAI, in turn, will provide ICMR access to GPU-based and high-performance computing infrastructure at subsidised rates, addressing critical infrastructure requirements for advanced AI research in healthcare.

Collaborative AI Use Case Development

The collaboration will also focus on co-developing AI-powered solutions to address key public health challenges, leveraging ICMR’s disease burden data and IndiaAI’s technology stack.

The MoU builds on ongoing cooperation between the two institutions. In September 2025, IndiaAI and ICMR’s National Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Sciences (NIRDHDS) were recognised as Pioneer Countries under the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network (GRN), a multilateral initiative co-founded with the United Kingdom and Singapore to promote responsible AI governance in healthcare.

A subsequent tripartite MoU between IndiaAI, ICMR (NIRDHDS), and HealthAI further strengthened efforts to operationalise a robust and ethical AI ecosystem for healthcare in India, according to the Ministry.

“The IndiaAI–ICMR collaboration is expected to catalyse innovation at the intersection of technology and public health, while ensuring adherence to ethical standards, data privacy, and regulatory frameworks,” the Ministry said.

Will Apple India Refund or Exchange Your Product/Purchase?

Apple India has clarified its retail sales policy. The company said that products purchased at the Apple Store in India cannot be refunded or exchanged. If your product is defective, and is under warranty or if Apple Care+ is purchased by you and is active, then you can get repairs at a very nominal cost from authorised Apple service centers across India. In some cases, the company also exchanges the defective products for the consumers.

But there is no normal exchange or refund policy for products that are working well. However, that’s in contrast with the retail sales policy of the company in the United States (US).

Apple has said for its US customers that, “In the unlikely event a product is not what you expected, you can return or exchange it with a receipt within 14 days of the date you receive the product from Apple.”

We are not sure why Apple has such contrasting sales policies in India and the US. However, it must be a lot to do with a different mindset of customers, different scale of operations and more. However, we do believe, Apple should also allow exchanges and refunds in India for products that in general dissatisfy consumers.

The draft amendment, issued for stakeholder consultation, seeks to modernise the Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal Regulation, 2012 (TCCRR-2012), which was last amended in 2014.

Rising Complaints Prompt Regulatory Overhaul

The regulator noted that India’s telecom sector has expanded significantly over the past two decades, with the country now having nearly 1.32 billion telecom subscribers and over 1.05 billion internet users as of February 2026. TRAI observed that consumer complaints have also risen sharply, increasing from 44,733 in 2023-24 to 73,081 in 2025-26, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with existing grievance redressal mechanisms.

Advisory Committee Set to be Removed

A major proposal in the draft amendment is the removal of the advisory committee involved in the appellate process. TRAI said the mechanism had become ineffective due to procedural delays, scheduling difficulties, and “diffusion of accountability”, often extending appeal resolution timelines beyond 40 days. The regulator stated that simplifying the process would make grievance redressal faster, more accountable, and consumer-centric.

Under the proposed framework, appellate authorities must be regular senior management employees of telecom service providers with at least five years of experience. Telecom companies will also be required to submit quarterly reports on complaint and appeal redressal, along with consumer survey outcomes, to their Boards and Chief Executive Officers to improve oversight and accountability.

24×7 Complaint Centres and Digital Platforms

Recognising changing consumer behaviour, TRAI has proposed that complaint centres operate round-the-clock instead of the existing 8 a.m. to midnight schedule. Telecom operators would also be mandated to provide complaint registration and tracking facilities through mobile applications, web portals, emails, AI-powered chatbots, and voice-based systems, while ensuring access to human customer care representatives.

“Service Provider may at its option also enable a consumer to register complaints or appeals and raise requests/ queries through any of their new-age customer-centric solutions (Chatbots, AI Agents, etc.), either already developed or the ones that may be deployed in future, which may be available on its web portal/website or mobile application. These solutions shall follow the same provisions as mentioned above in sub regulation,” TRAI said.

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“At the third level of IVRS, the consumer/customer should be given an option for call-back facility or wait in the queue for connecting with human consumer care representative,” TRAI said in its draft.

“Modes of consumer engagement have evolved significantly since 2012. While IVRS remains relevant, consumers today increasingly use mobile applications, web-based portals, chatbots, and emails to register and track complaints. Further, several provisions of the existing regulation need modification to improve the efficiency, efficacy and operational details of the complaint handling mechanism and its accessibility to consumers. The provisions regarding appeal against unsatisfactory handling of complaints also need modifications from the perspective of accessibility, clarity, efficiency, effectiveness and consumer convenience,” TRAI said in an official release on May 7, 2026.

“Every Complaint Centre shall be accessible to the customers between 0800 hrs and 2400 hrs round the clock on all days of the week. Every service provider shall deploy sufficient number of employees at its Complaint Centres to meet the Quality of Service parameters, as may be specified by the Authority from time to time,” the draft read.

Focus on Accessibility and Regional Languages

The amendment also introduces provisions to improve accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Dedicated support systems, trained customer care staff, and accessible digital grievance platforms would become mandatory in line with recent judicial directives and government guidelines. Consumers would additionally have the option to access customer support in the official language of their state, besides Hindi and English.

Consumer Feedback to Become Performance Metric

To strengthen regulatory oversight, TRAI has proposed online consumer satisfaction surveys after every complaint or appeal closure. Telecom operators would have to collect feedback through digital surveys and report the data periodically to the regulator for performance monitoring and policy interventions.

“Upon the resolution or closure of any formal complaint/appeal, the Service Provider shall immediately administer an Online Complaint/Appeal Resolution Survey to the complainant,” the draft said.

Financial Penalties for Non-Compliance

The draft regulations also introduce financial disincentives for service providers failing to comply with grievance redressal norms. Telecom operators may face penalties of Rs 1,000 for every improper disposal of a complaint and Rs 5,000 for every improper disposal of an appeal, subject to a quarterly cap of Rs 50 lakh per licensed service area. Delays in submitting Quarterly Performance Reports could attract penalties of up to Rs 20,000 per day, capped at Rs 10 lakh per instance.

TRAI has further proposed a regulatory review mechanism that would allow periodic audits, inspections, and analysis of complaint redressal systems based on performance reports and consumer feedback. Service providers would also be required to maintain complaint and appeal records for at least one year to facilitate audits and regulatory scrutiny.

Alignment With Telecommunications Act, 2023

The regulator said the proposed amendments seek to align the grievance redressal framework with the Telecommunications Act, 2023, while ensuring greater transparency, standardisation, and efficiency in handling consumer complaints in the evolving digital telecom ecosystem.