Introduction

The inception of Reliance Jio marked a new era for Indian telecommunications when it entered the market in 2016. By offering affordable data bundles and free call services along with a vast network coverage area, the company will become the leading mobile network operator in India, with 450+ million subscribers by 2025. The company made a transformative impact, which forced all Indian telecom operators to reevaluate their pricing structures.

The monthly SIM card recharges do not occur for all Jio subscribers. The majority of users possess their number as a backup SIM card to get one-time passwords and make emergency calls while using data occasionally. For these users, a frequent query arises: “How long is my SIM active if I don’t recharge?”

This piece answers that very query. With new policy changes, it is necessary to know how long your number will be valid without recharge, what will happen once your plan expires, and how you can prevent losing your number forever. Let’s examine the new SIM validity regulations and see how you need to keep your SIM active—even if you are not recharging frequently.

Jio SIM Validity Without Recharge

A Jio prepaid SIM stays active for 90 days after your previous recharge has expired. Outgoing calls and data services are blocked during this time, but incoming calls and SMS can function, particularly if the SIM is placed in a device and is connected to the Jio network.

This 90-day period is an amnesty period. It is beneficial for users who keep a SIM as a secondary number—to receive OTPs, bank notifications, or emergency calls. But if no recharge is done within this time frame, the SIM gets marked for cancellation. Such a policy is in line with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) guidelines, according to which the telecom operators can deactivate SIM cards after 90 days of dormancy. After the 90-day deadline, customers also have a further 15-day grace period to recharge and reclaim the number. Otherwise, the number will be lost forever and given to another user.

What Happens After Your Plan Expires

The first and most obvious effect is that all outgoing services come to an end—you will no longer be able to make calls, send SMS, or use mobile data. This is from the point at which your current plan comes to its expiration date.

However, incoming calls and SMS usually still work for a while. Jio normally keeps these services active for a few days or weeks past plan expiration to provide users with time to recharge.
Nevertheless, these privileges are transitory. If you fail to recharge or keep a balance, even incoming services will, at some point, cease, and the number will be scheduled for deactivation according to the 90-day validity principle.

The Rs. 20 Balance Rule

Jio has launched an assistive feature called the Rs. 20 Balance Rule to save the number of users from being lost due to non-recharge. If your SIM is not under an active recharge plan but has a principal balance of Rs. 20 or higher, then the number is valid beyond the regular 90-day grace period.

When your 90-day no-recharge period is over, Jio verifies your balance. If it’s Rs. 20 to mechanism automatically deducts Rs. 20 from your principal balance and adds a further 30 days of incoming validity to the SIM. This extension does not re-establish data or outgoing calls but keeps your number active to keep receiving incoming calls and messages, including OTPs.

This cycle can be done every 30 days, provided you have sufficient balance. Say your previous recharge validity was January 1st, and you did not recharge. The SIM remains active until March 31st (90 days). On April 1st, if you have Rs. 20 in your main account, Jio charges it off and takes the validity until April 30th. A second deduction of Rs. 20 on May 1st would take it until May 30th, and so on. This scheme is best suited for customers who wish to maintain their number active at low expenditure, particularly for backup or verification reasons.

When is Your Jio Number Deactivated?

If you are not able to recharge your SIM number and your primary balance drops below Rs. 20 after the 90-day grace period, your SIM enters the deactivation phase. This implies that it no longer views the number as active, and both incoming and outgoing services are completely suspended.

When your number is temporarily deactivated, it is out of order. You won’t be able to make or receive calls, send or receive SMS, or use mobile data. Even such services as receiving OTPs or emergency calls can become unavailable. Your SIM is effectively inactive on the network at this stage. But it gives you a 15-day window for reactivation after the first 90 days. This brief window is your last chance to retain the number and top-up with Rs. 20 or more within this period. Your SIM is renewed, and services are restored.

If there is no recharge within the 15-day reactivation period, the SIM is deactivated for good, and the number can be reassigned to a different customer. The original user loses all rights to reclaim the number once it has been reassigned. To prevent losing your number, it’s essential to either recharge within 90 days of plan validity expiry or keep a minimum balance of Rs. 20 that can be utilized for auto-renewal of validity.

How to Reactivate a Deactivated Jio SIM

If your SIM was deactivated because you did not recharge for more than 90 days and your balance was less than Rs. 20, Jio still offers a 15-day reactivation period. During this time, you can reactivate your SIM’s services by simply recharging your number.

To reactivate the SIM, a minimum recharge of Rs. 20 is required. This can be carried out through the MyJio application, the Jio website, or any third-party recharge site. As soon as the recharge is made within the 15-day grace period, Jio reactivates your number, and incoming services become available. Outgoing calls and data can also be restored based on the type of recharge.

But if the 15-day reactivation period elapses without a recharge, your number will automatically get deactivated. Jio can then allot the number to someone else. After reassignment, there is no way you can retrieve the same number even if you go to a Jio store.

If your SIM is either lost or physically damaged but still in reactivation, then you must go to the nearest service center with proof of ID to ask for a replacement. The officials will restore your number if it hasn’t already been reassigned. Working quickly is essential to prevent permanent loss.

Tips to Keep Your Jio SIM Active

To prevent the sudden deactivation of your Jio number, it’s a good idea to keep you on track with a reminder for recharging or top-up. You can utilize your phone’s calendar or alarm applications to remind you a few days before the plan expires so that you have enough time to recharge and your service is not disrupted.

Another helpful tip is to always have a minimum of Rs. 20 in your account. Once the default 90-day validity has expired, you will automatically deduct Rs. 20 to re-validate your SIM’s incoming for an additional 30 days. Provided you keep this balance recharged, your number remains active without having to get full recharges too often.

It also provides some low-cost recharge options for keeping your SIM active. You can go in for small recharges of Rs. 15 or Rs. 20 to keep the balance and auto-extend the services, or take short-term plans at low costs, such as the Rs. 119 pack that gives you 14 days of complete services, including call, data, and SMS. These low-cost options ensure your SIM remains active without you having to make a heavy financial investment.

Conclusion

Jio’s new SIM validity guidelines present an unambiguous timeline regarding how long your number remains active without recharge. Your SIM is still valid for 90 days after your last recharge’s validity period has elapsed, during which incoming calls and SMS generally remain functional. If you hold a minimum balance of Rs. 20 or higher, Jio automatically takes this amount every 30 days to further extend your SIM’s validity. But. If your balance goes below Rs. 20 and you fail to recharge within 90 days plus a grace period of 15 days, your SIM will be deactivated, and the number can be lost forever.

To prevent losing your number, the best thing to do is to regularly recharge your plan or maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 20 in your account to enjoy auto-extension benefits. This will keep your number active for incoming services and provide you with greater flexibility to recharge whenever you want. Being aware of and proactive about the validity of your SIM can prevent the inconvenience of reactivating or losing your number permanently.

FAQs

Q. For how long is a Jio SIM active without recharge?

A Jio prepaid SIM remains active for 90 days from your last recharge expiry.

Q. Do I get calls and SMS after my Jio plan has expired?

Yes, incoming calls and SMS usually remain active for a few days after expiry, but outgoing calls and data are immediately disconnected.

Q. What if my Jio balance is more than Rs. 20 after 90 days?

Jio deducts Rs. 20 automatically from your balance every 30 days to renew your SIM validity for incoming calls and SMS.

Q. What happens if my balance is less than Rs. 20 and I do not recharge?

Your SIM will be deactivated after 90 days plus 15 days of grace period if no recharge has been made.

Q. How much time do I have to reactivate a deactivated Jio SIM?

You get 15 days from deactivation to recharge and activate your number.

Q. What is the least recharge value for reactivating a Jio SIM?

The least recharge of Rs. 20 must be done to re-register a deactivated Jio SIM.

Q. Will I lose my phone number if I do not recharge?

Yes, if you do not recharge within the permitted durations, your number can be permanently deactivated and allotted to another person.

Q. Can I get OTPs on a dormant Jio SIM?

You can get OTPs as long as incoming SMS services are enabled during the validity term.

Q. Is it possible to make emergency calls in the absence of an active plan?

Yes, emergency calls such as 112 can be made even if there is no active recharge or balance.

Q. How can I make my Jio SIM active at a low cost?

Keep a minimum balance of Rs. 20 to automatically extend validity or recharge through low-cost plans such as Rs. 15, Rs. 20, or Rs. 119 packs.