**Executive Summary**
The Union Minister of Communications informed Parliament on February 5, 2026, that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have taken action to curb spam calls and SMS. The actions and number of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) complaints from January 2025 to December 2025 are detailed. TRAI aims to balance legitimate commercial communications with preventing UCC from unregistered senders.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UCC Complaint Statistics (Jan 2025 - Dec 2025):**
* The document includes a table showing the number of UCC complaints against Unregistered Telemarketers (UTM), Registered Telemarketers (RTM), and total complaints for each month.
* **TRAI Regulations and Actions:**
* **Regulatory Framework:** Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) governs UCC.
* **Registration:** Over 3 lakh senders and 21,000 telemarketers registered on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform.
* **Customer Preference:** Customers can register preferences and lodge complaints against UCC within 7 days via DND Mobile App, TSP App/Web portal, SMS to 1909, or calling 1909, or the Sanchar Saathi portal.
* **Blocking:** In December 2025, over 7.5 crore SMS and voice calls were blocked per day by the DLT system.
* **Number Series:** TRAI mandated the use of 140 series for promotional calls and registered headers for commercial SMS.
* **UTM Handling:** Major TSPs implemented AI-based solutions to detect suspected spam from UTMs using regular 10-digit numbers.
* **UTM Disconnection:** Telecom resources of UTMs violating TCCCPR will be disconnected, leading to approximately 21 lakh connections disconnected.
* **Financial Sector Calls:** Special 1600 series is prescribed for financial sector service and transactional calls.
* **Financial Disincentives:** TRAI imposed Rs. 153.8 crore in Financial Disincentives (FDs) on TSPs for contravening TCCCPR provisions.
* **Strengthened Provisions:** TCCCPR amendments in Feb 2025 strengthened provisions against UCC senders, ranging from immediate suspension to disconnection.
**Impact Analysis**
**Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing TRAI's regulations, detecting and blocking spam, and facing financial disincentives for non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Implement AI-based solutions, disconnect violating connections, comply with number series mandates, and adhere to TCCCPR provisions.
**Registered Telemarketers (RTM)**
* **Impact:** Must register on the DLT platform and adhere to regulations regarding commercial communications.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with TCCCPR and registration on the DLT platform.
**Customers/Consumers**
* **Impact:** Have mechanisms to register preferences, lodge complaints, and experience reduced spam calls/SMS.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available channels (DND app, portal, SMS, call) to register preferences and report UCC.
**Unregistered Telemarketers (UTM)**
* **Impact:** Face disconnection of telecom resources for violating TCCCPR.
* **Action Required:** Cease sending unsolicited commercial communications through non-compliant means.
**Financial Sector**
* **Impact:** Are required to use special 1600 series for service and transactional calls.
* **Action Required:** Comply with TRAI's 1600 series mandate for financial calls.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The primary regulator for telecom services, responsible for governing unsolicited commercial communications (UCC).
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The government department overseeing telecommunications and working with TRAI to curb spam.
Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR): The regulatory framework under which TRAI governs UCC (Unsolicited Commercial Communication).
Ministry of Communications
DOT and TRAI have taken widespread action for
curbing spam calls and SMS
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 6:07PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Shri
Jyotiraditya Scindia in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today informed Parliament regarding
complaints of spam and widespread action for curbing spam calls and SMS as detailed under:
The number of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) complaints received by Telecom Service
Providers (TSPs) for the period January 2025 to December 2025 is as follows:
Month Complaints against Complaints against Total
Unregistered Telemarketer Registered Telemarketer Complaints
(UTM) (RTM)
Jan 2025 1,34,821 13,299 1,48,120
Feb 2025 1,05,102 11,111 1,16,213
Mar 2025 1,16,221 15,741 1,31,962
Apr 2025 1,24,105 14,602 1,38,707
May 2025 2,11,509 49,248 2,60,757
Jun 2025 2,68,150 57,751 3,25,901
Jul 2025 2,87,574 50,873 3,38,447
Aug 2025 3,08,320 85,746 3,94,066
Sep 2025 3,12,083 71,501 3,83,584
Oct 2025 2,16,476 39,138 2,55,614
Nov 2025 2,40,162 41,985 2,82,147Dec 2025 2,77,551 56,766 3,34,317
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) governs UCC under the regulatory framework viz.
Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR). TRAI has adopted
two-pronged strategy, which involves provisions for legitimate commercial communications by the
registered entities, and measures to curb UCC from unregistered senders. Notable actions taken by TRAI
are as follows:
i. As per TRAI’s mandate, more than 3 lakh senders and 21,000 telemarketers have registered on
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform.
ii. A customer who does not want to receive promotional communication from (RTM), can register
their preferences and lodge complaint against UCC within 7 days through any of the following
means –
a. using TRAI Do Not Disturb (DND) Mobile App,
b. through TSPs App or Web portal,
c. by sending SMS to short code to 1909,
d. by calling on 1909.
In addition to above channels, complaints can also be lodged on Sanchar Saathi portal of
Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
iii. In December 2025, more than 7.5 crore SMS and voice calls were blocked per day by DLT system
on an average, based on the preferences of the customers.
iv. TRAI has mandated the use of – (a) 140 series numbers for making promotional calls, and (b)
registered headers for sending any commercial SMS.
v. Based on the complaints received, it is observed that majority of the UCC is from UTMs who use
regular 10-digit numbers instead of 140 series bypassing the DLT platform and therefore customer
preferences. To tackle this, major TSPs have implemented AI-based solutions to detect suspected
spam and alert the customers.
vi. TRAI issued directions to TSPs on 13.08.2024, to disconnect all telecom resources of the UTMs for
making commercial calls in violation of TCCCPR. Through TCCCPR amendments in Feb 2025,
provisions for action against the UCC senders was further strengthened. The actions now range
from immediate suspension of connections to disconnection of all the connections of the UCC
sender across TSPs. Subsequently, around 21 lakhs telecom connections have been disconnected.
vii. TRAI has prescribed to use special 1600 series for financial sector for making service and
transactional calls to enable consumers to distinguish such calls with strict timelines of
implementation.
viii. TRAI has imposed Financial Disincentives (FDs) of Rs. 153.8 crore on TSPs for closing UCC
complaints in contravention of the provisions of the TCCCPR.
(RS-STARRED PQ 74; 05-02-2026)Follow DoT Handles for more: -
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*****
MI/ARJ
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