Reliance Jio— Reliance Jio has increased its focus on the budget segment to maintain its strong hold in the Indian telecom market. Amid reports of a possible tariff hike later this year, the company is currently offering four major prepaid plans priced under Rs 200. These plans are best suited for users who want low-cost calling and data access or who want to test the network quality before committing to a long-term recharge.

Reliance Jio: These 4 great plans are available for less than ₹ 200, check validity and data benefits before recharge.

Service validity is available in these four plans

Unlike many data vouchers available in the market, these four plans come with standalone service validity. This means that you will not need a separate recharge to keep the SIM active. Jio currently has options of Rs 189, Rs 196, Rs 198 and Rs 199 in its portfolio.

1. Cheapest option: Rs 189 plan

This is the most affordable base plan of Jio. In this, customers get validity of 28 days. Talking about the features, a total of 2GB data, unlimited voice calling and a total of 300 SMS are being provided. It is better for those who mainly use the phone for calling.

2. Special for MP and CG users: Rs 196 plan

This plan is a little different as it is based on an intra-circle roaming (ICR) agreement with BSNL. Currently this facility is applicable only for customers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (MP-CG). For Rs 196, users get 2GB data, 1000 minutes of voice calling and 1000 SMS for 28 days. Keep in mind, this will work only when you are connected to Jio’s partner network (BSNL).

Data and the mathematics of other options

The Rs 198 and Rs 199 plans are also part of this category, offering different data limits with minor differences. It is worth noting that Jio also has many other plans below Rs 200, but they only work as ‘data vouchers’. They do not provide the facility of voice calling or extending the validity of the SIM.

Expert opinion: Is it right to recharge now?

What will be the impact on customers?

If you live in a densely populated area (like Chandni Chowk or Andheri) of a big city like Delhi, Mumbai or Lucknow, then these plans under Rs 200 are the cheapest way to test the network. If the prices increase in future, then the prices of these basic plans may see a jump of up to 15-20%. Currently, these plans remain a lifeline for students and migrant laborers who have limited budget.