Jio has ended its ₹199 and ₹249 prepaid plans. The lowest monthly option is now ₹299.
The change brings Jio’s tariffs in line with Airtel and Vodafone Idea.
Brokerages see under 2% near-term gains, but up to 5% ARPU growth by FY26.
Shares of Reliance Industries (RIL) rose over 2% on August 19, after its telecom arm, Reliance Jio, subtly tightened the pricing for prepaid users. The company has scrapped its cheapest daily data packs, effectively pushing entry-level tariffs up by about 20%.
Until now, Jio’s most affordable option for light data users was the ₹249 plan, which offered 1GB per day for 28 days. A slightly shorter 22-day pack was available at ₹209. Both have now been discontinued. In their absence, the first cheapest plan on the price ladder shifts to the ₹299 pack, which provides 1.5GB per day for 28 days. The same plan earlier cost ₹249, making it more expensive for customers at the lower end of the market.
The move brings Jio’s pricing structure at par with rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, who already charge ₹299 for their entry 28-day packs. Analysts say this change reduces the temptation for customers to trade down to cheaper plans, effectively ensuring industry-wide tariff discipline.
According to IIFL Securities, the now-discontinued ₹249 pack accounted for less than 10% of Jio’s mobile revenues. On that basis, the brokerage estimates the shift may add less than 2% directly to revenue. However, Axis Capital takes a more bullish view, suggesting the measure could lift Jio’s revenue and average revenue per user (ARPU) by 4–5% in FY26.
Global brokerage Morgan Stanley went on to highlight that Jio has also simultaneously removed its popular ₹199 plan, which used to offer 1.5GB per day for 18 days. With both the ₹199 and ₹249 plans gone, the operator no longer offers a 1GB per day pack for a 28-day validity. The new lowest price point for a monthly daily-data plan is ₹299.
