u/ShoddyIdeal1543

Hello,

Hope all are well. I have searched around, but I am a bit confused as to what the tariffs are + the workflow, hence I am posting here for some kind soul to assist.

Me & my wife are OCI NRIs, we are visiting Madras in a few weeks(yes I am showing my age here). We are predominantly an iOS/iPhone family. We make trips to India once every few years, that said as some of our family is getting older we probably would be visiting a bit more frequently. I am getting this primarily so that we have a local number to be used for Uber/Dunzo/Ola whatever, not for data, as my provider here in the UK gives me enough roaming data.

After researching around, this is what I am planning to do.

1. Go to a Jio/Airtel/BSNL store and show them my Aadhar/PAN card and if need be my OCI and order an eSIM for me and my SO.
2. Activate the eSIM and further hopefully enable WiFi calling too when I am in India.
3. Ideally I would like to sing up for a pre-paid annual plan.

My questions are.

1. Should I go with Jio or one of the other providers(Airtel or BSNL?)
2. I want as less friction as possible, I do know the govt has very strict workflows for getting a phone number, but ideally I don't spend hours on end in the store when I am visiting.
3. What plan should I sign up for that will allow me to continue to use this in the UK occasionally to receive OTP's and the occasional call or 2 ideally using Wifi calling.
4. What would the tariffs be?
5. What would the annual renewal workflow look like? Can I use my UK credit card or have to figure out a way to pay using some bank or card in India.

Any other suggestiosn appreciated.

Thank you!