What happens if I don’t recharge for 2–3 months?

If you don’t recharge your prepaid number for two or three months, the mobile service will be progressively suspended, and you could lose your number completely. This occurs in a systematic and gradual way, with a set timeframe established by the Indian telecom operators in 2025.

This is typically what happens:

• End of Validity: The plan expires and outgoing calls, SMS, and data are all stopped visibility, the moment your plan expires.
• Grace Period: Some operators may allow incoming calls for a grace period, which is a few days to usually a couple of weeks depending on operator.
• Full Suspension: If you don't top up your number then all calls will stop including incoming calls (you won't be able to receive anything) All services to the SIM have become inactive.
• Permanent Disconnect: After a great period of inactivity - usually around 90 days - depending on your provider, your number could have a permanent disconnect. At this point the operator could supply that number to someone else.
• Loss of Benefits: You forego all remaining and unused balance, data and any VIP benefit you may have enjoyed.

Clearly, in order to maintain the number without having to start from scratch with a new number, you should recharge at least the minimum validity plan before the grace period expires.

Helpful tips to consider:

• Set reminders on your calendar so you don’t forget your plan expiry date.
• Use recharge platforms that inform you when your service is due to expire.
• If your phone number is related to banking, work or people in your family, keep it active.

Keeping a check on your recharges is a good habit to ensure you stay connected to where you need to be and avoid the pain of losing your mobile phone number.