TRAI gets strict to curb the menace of Spam calls

TRAI brings in new policies to strengthen Anti-Spam measures, triggers action for 5 complaints in 10 days, ensuring quicker response against Unsolicited Commercial Communication senders. 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced stricter regulations to combat the growing menace of spam calls and unsolicited commercial communication (UCC). As part of the latest amendments to the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, announced on February 12, 2025, TRAI has significantly revised complaint timelines and enforcement actions to strengthen spam call regulation and enhance consumer protection.

Key Amendments to curb Spam Calls include extended complaint windows for consumers. Customers can now lodge complaints about spam calls and messages within 7 days of receiving them, an increase from the earlier 3-day limit. This change gives users more flexibility to report unwanted telemarketing messages and calls. TRAI has reduced the time limit for telecom service providers to act against UCC from 30 days to just 5 days. This ensures quicker action against unregistered telemarketers and spammers, thereby preventing repeat violations.

Under the new TRAI guidelines, telemarketers must adhere to stricter consent-based communication policies. Businesses must obtain explicit customer consent before sending promotional messages, ensuring greater transparency. It has empowered access providers to maintain a blacklist of habitual offenders, barring them from sending messages or making telemarketing calls. This will help reduce repeated spam from the same sources.

TRAI’s New Policies for Telemarketing and Spam Call Regulation

With the increasing volume of spam calls disrupting consumers, TRAI has emphasized zero tolerance toward unauthorized telemarketers. The new regulations will significantly impact telemarketing rules in India, making it mandatory for businesses to comply with stricter authentication and consent-based communication.

The TRAI Anti-Spam Measures also mandate telecom operators to deploy advanced analytics to monitor call patterns, helping to distinguish between legitimate business calls and potential spam. These steps align with TRAI’s broader vision of enhancing consumer trust and reducing fraudulent communications.

With the TRAI New Policies now in effect, consumers can expect a significant reduction in spam calls and messages. Additionally, telecom operators will be held accountable for enforcing stricter spam prevention mechanisms. By streamlining TRAI and telemarketing regulations, the authority aims to create a safer and more transparent digital communication ecosystem in India.

Telecom operators must now integrate more robust spam call blocker technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to detect and prevent spam calls in real time. Also, TRAI urges consumers to remain vigilant, use the DND (Do Not Disturb) registry, and promptly report any violations. With stronger spam call blockers and quicker response mechanisms, India is taking a firm step toward eradicating spam communications.

Also Read: TRAI cracks down on telcos over spam calls and messages