BSNL is known for offering affordable prepaid plans compared to private telecom companies. However, the company has now disappointed customers by reducing the validity of one of its popular plans.
We are talking about the ₹197 prepaid plan. This plan has been changed several times over the past few years, and its validity has been reduced each time.
Earlier, in July 2025, the company had already cut down its validity. Now, just a few months later, the validity has been reduced again—this time almost by half.
Updated Benefits of BSNL ₹197 Plan
Earlier, the validity of the ₹197 plan was 70 days. It was then reduced to 54 days, and now it has been cut down further to just 35 days.
Current validity: 35 days
Daily cost: ₹5.63
Data: 5GB total
SMS: 100 messages
Voice calls: 300 minutes
After using the 5GB data, users can still access the internet at a reduced speed of 40Kbps, which makes it almost like unlimited data. Although 100 SMS may seem limited, it can still be useful for important messages.
This updated plan is now available across India. Users can recharge it through the BSNL Selfcare mobile app or the official website.
Comparison with Airtel and Jio Plans
Airtel ₹199 Plan
Airtel offers a ₹199 prepaid plan with the following benefits:
Validity: 28 days
Calls: Unlimited
SMS: 100 per day
Data: 2GB total
After the data limit is used, additional data is charged at 50 paise per MB. This plan also includes extra benefits like Adobe Xpress Premium, free HelloTunes, and a 12-month subscription to Airtel Xstream Play.
Jio ₹198 Plan
Jio has a ₹198 prepaid plan with these features:
Validity: 14 days
Calls: Unlimited on all networks
SMS: 100 per day
Data: 2GB per day
Customers also get access to unlimited 5G data (if eligible). In addition, the plan includes access to Jio TV and Jio AI Cloud.
