TRAI's New Spam Call Rules: What Changes for You -

Quick answer: On 18 September 2026, TRAI notified new anti-spam rules that let telecom operators act against suspected spammers flagged by their AI systems, even before anyone complains, and lower the complaint threshold for action to three complaints in ten days. You’ll still need to report spam through the TRAI DND app or 1909, but your report now counts for more, and you can appeal if your complaint is closed without action.

The changes come from the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, which TRAI announced in press release No. 119 of 2026. They follow a consultation that ran from March to June 2026.

Spam won’t vanish overnight. But the rules shift more of the burden onto telecom operators and the businesses that call you. Here’s what changes and what you should do. Details are as of 5 October 2026.

What TRAI changed on 18 September 2026

The new rules cover four main areas that matter to ordinary users:

AI detection counts as evidence. Big operators must run AI and machine-learning systems to spot suspected spam. If five or more numbers linked to the same sender are flagged within ten days, the sender faces escalating action, starting with KYC re-verification.
Fewer complaints are needed. Action now begins when there are three or more unique complaints within ten days, backed up by the AI detection, down from the earlier requirement of five complaints.
You can appeal. If you’re not happy with how your spam complaint was resolved, you can file an appeal within 15 days through the TRAI DND app, your operator’s portal or 1909.
A shorter window after you enquire. If you ask a business about a product, it can contact you about that enquiry for only seven days, down from three months, and it must keep a written or digital record of your enquiry.

What happens to spammers now

According to Onmanorama’s report on the rules, the process works like this. When an operator’s AI system flags suspected spam calls, it shares the details with the network the calls came from within two hours. That operator then identifies the sender’s KYC details within one business day.

The penalties are graded:

First violation: outgoing services are barred for 15 days.
Repeat violations: all of the sender’s telecom resources are disconnected for one year, and the sender is blacklisted, so no operator can give them new connections during that time.

TRAI’s press release adds that telemarketers who misuse SMS headers face year-long disconnection and blacklisting across all operators. Businesses that use automated, pre-recorded calls must now declare this to their operator. Undeclared automated calls are treated as unsolicited commercial communication and face an extra termination charge.

Why some legitimate calls can’t be blocked by apps

One change surprised many people. Call-management apps, such as caller ID and spam-blocking apps, can no longer blanket-block or tag as spam all calls from the special number series designated for genuine commercial and service calls. TRAI’s release names the 140xx, 1600xx and 1601xx series.

TRAI’s release describes the 1600xx and 1601xx series as being for service and transactional calls. Separately, TRAI directed banks, NBFCs, mutual funds, stockbrokers and other financial firms regulated by RBI, SEBI and PFRDA to move their service and transactional calls to the 1600 series in phases between January and March 2026, as Outlook Money reported. So a service call from your bank should now come from a 1600 number. You can still block an individual number yourself on your own phone. What apps can’t do is block the whole series for everyone.

This also gives you a useful check. If someone claims to be your bank but is calling from an ordinary ten-digit mobile number, treat it with extra suspicion and call the bank back on the number printed on your card or passbook. Even a 1600 number is never a reason to share an OTP or PIN; no genuine bank will ask for them.

When do the new rules take effect?

Onmanorama reports that the rules take effect one month after publication in the official Gazette, with parts rolled out in phases over 60 to 90 days. That means you may not see a difference immediately, and operators will be building their systems through the end of 2026.

The press release itself doesn’t give a start date, so if your operator announces its own timeline, that’s the one to watch.

How to report spam calls and SMS in India

Your complaints feed directly into the new three-complaint rule, so reporting is worth the 30 seconds it takes.

Block promotional calls and messages

Send an SMS saying BLOCK PROMO to 1909 to block promotional communication in all categories. Transactional messages, such as OTPs and bank alerts, and government messages aren’t affected.
Or install the official TRAI DND app and pick the categories you want to block.

Report a spam call or SMS

Open the TRAI DND app, or call or text 1909.
Give the number that called or messaged you, and the date and time.
Note your complaint number. If it’s closed and you disagree, you now have 15 days to appeal.

Report fraud, not just spam

Spam is an annoyance; fraud is a crime. If the call or message was trying to cheat you, for example a fake KYC update, a “digital arrest” threat or a fake courier, report it on the government’s Sanchar Saathi portal using the Chakshu option. Our Sanchar Saathi guide shows how. If you’ve already lost money, call 1930 straight away.

For more on scams and staying safe online, see our Cybersecurity and Privacy section.

What this won’t fix

These rules target registered telemarketers and senders who misuse Indian phone numbers. They’re less effective against scam calls that come over WhatsApp or from international numbers, which don’t pass through the same commercial-messaging system. Sanchar Saathi has a separate option to report international calls that show a +91 Indian number.

The rules also depend on operators building working AI systems and enforcing the penalties. It’s sensible to expect a gradual drop in spam over the coming months rather than an instant change.

Frequently asked questions

Will I stop getting OTPs and bank alerts if I block promotional calls?

No. Blocking promotional communication through 1909 or the DND app doesn’t block transactional messages such as OTPs and bank alerts, or messages from the government.

Can Truecaller still block spam calls?

Caller ID apps can still help, and you can still block individual numbers on your own phone. Under the new rules, though, they can’t blanket-block or spam-tag the whole 140xx, 1600xx and 1601xx series that TRAI has set aside for commercial and service calls.

A company I enquired with keeps calling me. Is that allowed?

Under the amended rules, a business can contact you about your enquiry for seven days from the date you made it, and it must keep a record of that enquiry. After that, unwanted calls can be reported as spam.

Do these rules apply to WhatsApp spam?

No. TRAI’s commercial communication rules cover calls and SMS on telecom networks. For WhatsApp, use the app’s own Block and Report options, and report fraud attempts on Sanchar Saathi’s Chakshu.

TRAI’s New Spam Call Rules: What Changes for You