Today, most smartphones come with dual SIM card slots, some even offer eSIM support along with physical slots. Owning multiple SIM cards is mostly about convenience and it has become a norm among users over the years.
Usually, users keep their primary SIM for personal contacts while they keep the secondary for business purposes. In case you are dependent on two SIM cards with bare minimum use for a secondary card, here are some cost-effective plans to help you keep the SIM active.
No matter what the use-case is, if you are planning to retain your secondary SIM cards from Airtel, Jio, Vi or BSNL, below is a list of some of the most affordable plans.
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| Operator | Price | Validity (in days) | Data (per year) | Calling |
| Airtel | Rs 1,799 | 365 | 24 GB | Unlimited |
| BSNL | Rs 1,251 | 365 | 9 GB | Unlimited |
| Jio | Rs 1,559 | 336 | 24 GB | Unlimited |
| Vi | Rs 1,799 | 365 | 24 GB | Unlimited |
The most affordable annual recharge plan from Airtel
Airtel’s Rs 1,799 recharge plan for prepaid users comes with excellent benefits, which include 365 days of validity, free unlimited calling, 3,600 SMS, and 24 GB of 4G data. This plan costs just under Rs 150 a month, Airtel also offers additional benefits such as access to Wynk music, and free access to hello tunes.
The most affordable annual recharge plan from BSNL
State-owned BSNL offers the most affordable annual recharge plan for prepaid users. Priced at Rs 1,251, it comes with 365 days of validity with 0.75 GB of data per month. Again, this is strictly for those, who just want to keep their phone number active by spending the minimum amount of money.
The most affordable annual recharge plan from Jio
Jio’s Rs 1,559 recharge plan offers 336 days (11 months) of validity along with 24 GB of data, unlimited voice calls, and 3,600 SMS (limited to 100 per day). However, 5G users will get access to unlimited 5G data without any data cap. Besides, this plan includes complimentary access to JioTV, JioCinema, and JioCloud.
The most affordable annual recharge plan from Vi
Vi’s most affordable annual recharge plan costs Rs 1,799 and offers 365 days of validity, with benefits that are similar to Airtel, which includes free unlimited calling, 24 GB of 4G data, and 3,600 SMS. Additionally, users can also get access to Vi movies and TV for free.
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A recent report by CLSA, a research firm, stated that there were over 140 million dual SIM users in India as of 2022. The report also suggested that the rise in tariffs is likely to witness a gradual decline in dual SIM card users.
Regardless of the above-mentioned use-case, one could keep a secondary SIM for a variety of reasons that could include, better network connectivity, cheaper and faster internet connection, and perhaps to customise their contact list. Some even retain their SIM cards in order to avoid the cumbersome process of registering on other apps and services.
