New Delhi, Oct. 20 -- A '1-rupee' storm is brewing in India's telecom sector. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's (BSNL) new 4G recharge plan for Rs.1, seen as an attempt to draw new users to its long-awaited 4G network, has drawn fire from private telecom operators, who allege it violates regulatory rules, three people in the know said.

The dispute revives memories of Reliance Jio's 2016 entry, when free offers upended the market and triggered years of tariff wars. Now, as Jio and Bharti Airtel dominate India's telecom landscape, BSNL's new plan has reopened questions on pricing fairness, regulatory oversight, and the role of a state-owned operator trying to regain ground with ultra-low priced offers.

Private operators have approach...