**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to Unstarred Question No. 771 regarding Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) complaints. It provides data on complaints received against unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) from 2021-2025, actions taken against UTMs, and measures implemented by TRAI and the government to curb spam calls and protect user data privacy. The response also highlights the status of the draft 2024 Guidelines for Curtailing Spam Communications. The question was answered on the 4th of February, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UCC Complaint Data (2021-2025):**
* Airtel received 3370065 complaints, BSNL 172392, MTNL 1775, QTL 0, Tata 0, VIL 1144789, STPI 0, RCL 2, RJIL 2643409.
* Data is broken down year-wise and service-provider-wise.
* **Actions Against UTMs:**
* Access Providers put unregistered senders under Usage Cap.
* Access Providers issued warnings against first instance of violations, after completion of investigation.
* Access Providers imposed usage caps on unregistered senders violating a second time, after completion of investigation.
* Access Providers disconnected unregistered senders violating a third or more times.
* TRAI mandated the disconnection of all telecom resources of UTMs violating TCCCPR 2018, leading to the disconnection of 18.8 lakh numbers.
* **Actions Against Registered Telemarketers (RTMs):**
* 1295 telecom resources of RTMs were disconnected between Oct 2024 and Nov 2025.
* TRAI imposed Financial Disincentives (FDs) of Rs. 153.8 crore on Access Providers for closing UCC complaints in contravention of the provisions of the TCCCPR.
* **TRAI Directives and Amendments:**
* TRAI issued various Directions in 2024 and amended TCCCPR-2018 on 12.02.2025 to strengthen actions against UCC senders.
* Actions include immediate suspension of connections to disconnection of all the connections of the UCC sender across TSPs.
* **TRAI's Two-Pronged Strategy to Govern UCC:**
* Provisions for legitimate commercial communications by registered entities.
* Measures to curb UCC from unregistered senders.
* **Notable TRAI Actions:**
* Over 3 lakh senders and 21,000 telemarketers have registered on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform.
* Customers can register preferences and lodge complaints against UCC within 7 days through various channels (DND Mobile App, TSPs App/Web, SMS to 1909, calling 1909, or Sanchar Saathi portal).
* TRAI mandated the use of 140 series numbers for promotional calls and registered headers for commercial SMS.
* TRAI prescribed the use of special 1600 series for financial sector service and transactional calls.
* Major TSPs have implemented AI-based solutions to detect suspected spam.
**Impact Analysis**
**Access Providers**
* **Impact**: They are responsible for taking action against unregistered telemarketers (UTMs). They are also responsible for implementing and enforcing TRAI's directives.
* **Action Required**: To continue monitoring, capping, issuing warnings, and disconnecting UTMs violating regulations. Enforce the special 1600 series for financial sector calls. Implement AI-based solutions to detect suspected spam. Pay Rs 153.8 crore as financial disincentives to TRAI for closing UCC complaints in contravention of provisions of the TCCCPR.
**Telemarketers (Registered and Unregistered)**
* **Impact**: Subject to regulations concerning commercial communication, including registration requirements, restrictions on spam calls, and potential penalties.
* **Action Required**: RTMs must adhere to the TCCCPR guidelines and ensure compliance. UTMs should register and comply with regulatory requirements to avoid penalties and disconnection.
**Consumers**
* **Impact**: Directly affected by UCC. Their data privacy is to be protected and can register preferences and complaints.
* **Action Required**: Utilize available channels (DND Mobile App, TSPs App/Web, SMS to 1909, calling 1909, or Sanchar Saathi portal) to register preferences and lodge complaints against UCC.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): India's regulator of telecommunications, taking action against unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) and governing Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) under the TCCCPR.
Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018: Regulatory framework governing Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC), enabling TRAI's actions and providing measures for legitimate commercial communications while curbing UCC from unregistered senders.
Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC): The subject of the policy, referring to unwanted commercial messages. The policy addresses UCC complaints and actions to curb UCC from unregistered senders.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The department, under the Ministry of Communications, responsible for telecommunications. Their Sanchar Saathi portal facilitates lodging UCC complaints.
Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs): Entities sending unsolicited commercial communications without registration, targeted by Access Providers and TRAI with warnings, disconnections, and blacklisting.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 771
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATION COMPLAINTS
771. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) complaints received
against Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) by Access Providers during the last five years, year and
service-provider-wise;
(b) the action taken by Access Providers and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
against such UTMs, including warnings issued, numbers disconnected and entities blacklisted;
(c) the total number of registered companies penalised for unsolicited communications during
the same period, the cumulative amount of penalties imposed and the extent to which such actions
have improved compliance;
(d) the present status of the draft 2024 Guidelines for Curtailing Spam Communications, reasons
for delay in final notification and the expected timeline for implementation; and
(e) the interim measures and technological or regulatory steps being taken by the Government
and TRAI to curb spam calls, protect user data privacy, strengthen consumer grievance redressal and
reduce the overall frequency of unsolicited communications?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) The total number of Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) complaints received
against Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) by Terminating Access Provider (TAP) during the last
five years, year-wise and service-provider-wise, are as follows:
Year-wise and service-provider-wise UTM Complaints
Year Airtel BSNL MTNL QTL Tata VIL STPI RCL RJIL
2021 370193 24181 993 0 0 237874 0 2 222489
2022 443498 19312 299 0 0 195805 0 0 245440
2023 566478 20157 272 0 0 189950 0 0 446088
2024 809902 35372 186 0 0 248054 0 0 653813
2025 1179994 73370 25 0 0 273106 0 0 1075579
Total 3370065 172392 1775 0 0 1144789 0 2 2643409
(b) Action taken by Access Providers against the UTMs are as under:
1Number of
Number of Number of
unregistered Number of
unregistered unregistered
senders who were unregistered
senders who senders found
given warning senders found
were put under violating second
Period against first violating third
Usage Cap, time and usage
instance of or more number
during the cap imposed,
violations, after of times and
investigation after completion
completion of disconnected
phase of investigation
investigation
Jan-21 to Dec-21 221690 346429 54865 15382
Jan-22 to Dec-22 258041 409739 77213 32032
Jan-23 to Dec-23 256220 399274 57565 27043
Jan-24 to July-24 417083 580557 63819 1910165*
Jan-25 to Dec-25 475637 800694 90156 43163
* On August 13, 2024, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a Direction
mandating the disconnection of all telecom resources of UTMs involved in making commercial
calls in violation of the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference
Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018 regulations. Following this Direction, 18.8 lakh numbers were
disconnected by Access Providers.
(c) Based on the information provided by Access Providers, 1295 telecom resources of
Registered Telemarketers (RTMs) were disconnected for the period of Oct 2024 – Nov 2025, by the
Access Providers. TRAI has also imposed Financial Disincentives (FDs) of Rs. 153.8 crore on
Access Providers for closing UCC complaints in contravention of the provisions of the TCCCPR.
(d) TRAI has issued various Directions in 2024 dated 13.08.2024, 20.08.2024, 28.10.2024,
30.11.2024 under TCCCPR-2018 and amended the TCCCPR-2018 on 12.02.2025. Through this
amendment, 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.
(e) TRAI governs UCC under the regulatory framework viz. 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).
2iii. TRAI has mandated the use of – (a) 140 series numbers for making promotional calls, and
(b) registered headers for sending any commercial SMS. 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. 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. In December 2025, on an
average, more than 31 crores calls and SMS were flagged as suspected spam per day by
the TSPs.
v. TRAI has prescribed to use special 1600 series for financial sector for making service and
transactional calls to enable consumers to distinguish such calls.
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