Telecom regulator TRAI has said that mobile operators will have to credit one rupee to a user’s account for a call drop from January 1, 2016. It said users would be compensated for no more than three dropped calls a day. The TRAI’s announcement comes as a huge relief to consumers facing call drops every day, a growing issue which has forced authorities at the highest levels to take notice and intervene.

The regulator has asked mobile phone operators to send a SMS to the user within four-hours intimating of a call drop, and the credit for such drops to prepaid users.  In case, of post-paid subscribers, operators will have to adjust the compensation for call drops in their monthly bills to users.

In August 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought that the issue of call drops be fixed urgently as it directly impacts the common man. The Centre has been closely monitoring efforts since. TRAI consulted stakeholders including mobile operators and consumer groups before making its recommendations on call drops.

Who is the present Chairman of TRAI?