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.
3 February 2026
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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.
