TRAI Tightens Spam Call Rules

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has tightened its rules to curb spam calls, allowing telecom operators to act against suspected spammers identified through AI and machine learning systems even without a consumer complaint. Under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, operators will have to re-verify the KYC details of senders flagged as suspected spammers and share relevant information across networks. If violations are established, telecom resources can be suspended or disconnected, and serious cases may also be reported to law enforcement agencies.

The new framework also provides for action when multiple calling-line identifiers associated with the same sender are flagged within a specified period. Subscribers will continue to have the option to block promotional telemarketing calls directly. To block promotional commercial communications across categories, users can send BLOCK PROMO to 1909. This will not block service, transaction-related or government communications. The amended rules will come into force in phases, with different provisions taking effect over 60 to 90 days.