Mobile phone user? Your prepaid plan's validity set to end? Good news is here for you

In what comes as a good news for mobile phone users, TRAI has asked telecom operators to extend the validity period of prepaid plans to ensure that subscribers get uninterrupted services during the 21-day nationwide lockdown. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also sought details of the steps being taken to ensure availability of uninterrupted telecom services to such customers on a "priority basis".

"...You are required to take necessary steps as deemed fit including extending the validity period to ensure that all prepaid subscribers can enjoy uninterrupted services during the period of lockdown," TRAI said in a communication to all operators on Sunday.

The decision was taken in the wake of 21-day countrywide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India has seen a surge in number of coronavirus with the number of people tested positive crossing 1000 mark. As many as 29 deaths have been reported so far. During the lockdown, Centre said that road, rail and air services will remain suspended during this period.

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"Though the telecommunication services have been considered as essential services and thus granted an exception from closing down... However, lock down may adversely affect the working of customer service centres/point of sale locations," TRAI said.

The regulator added: "Under the circumstances, it is quite possible that those subscribers who wish to top up their prepaid balances or wish to extend subscription to a prepaid tariff using offline channels may face hardships and/or disruption of services".

The government has also asked over 600 IAS officers to give feedback on a questionnaire related to its preparedness against coronavirus pandemic. The officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of five batches (2014-2018), who served as assistant secretaries at central government departments soon after completion of their training, have been asked to give response to the questionnaire.