On 16 OCT 2025, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) convened the 9th Meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) at TRAI Headquarters, New Delhi.
Attendees included representatives from RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, MeitY, DoT, MHA, MoCA, and NPCI. Industry representatives from Google, Meta, GSMA, and COAI were also present. Discussions focused on consumer empowerment, trust, and safeguarding against spam and fraudulent digital communication.
Key outcomes:
1. Pilot of Digital Consent Acquisition to be completed by February 2026, implemented at 11 banks and jointly piloted by TRAI and RBI.
2. Phased sunset timeline for migration to the 1600-series numbering plan in the BFSI sectors, with sectoral regulators' support.
3. TRAI to issue directions regarding differential treatment for small-scale financial/business entities from the 1600 series mandate.
4. Emphasis on mandatory whitelisting of all URLs, OTT links, APKs, and callback numbers used in commercial communication, with TRAI to contain misuse by tagging links in approved SMS templates, requiring member support.
5. TRAI and TSPs may consider publishing blacklisted entities for spamming activities.
6. Deliberation on TRAI's draft Direction mandating enhanced PE-end security measures, including real-time credential validation and CAPTCHA enforcement for OTP systems.
Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, TRAI, stated that the JCoR serves as a vital platform for orderly use of digital connectivity and action against spam and cyber fraud and that the committee is also engaging with industry representatives as they are important stakeholders. The decisions reflect a shared commitment to building a secure and transparent digital communication ecosystem. The release ID is 2180011.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The primary regulatory body responsible for telecommunications in India, playing a key role in initiatives discussed.
Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR): A committee convened by TRAI to address spam and cyber fraud issues, involving various regulators.
Digital Consent Acquisition pilot project: A pilot project jointly piloted by TRAI and RBI, aiming to improve the consent process.
1600-series numbering plan: A numbering plan under discussion for migration in Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sectors.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): One of the regulators attending the meeting, involved in piloting the Digital Consent Acquisition project with TRAI.
Ministry of Communications
TRAI convenes 9th Joint Committee of Regulators
(JCoR) on issues of Spam and Cyber Fraud
Pilot for Digital Consent Acquisition on track, major
push for 1600-series call adoption, mandatory
whitelisting of all URLs, OTT links, APKs, and
callback numbers sent in SMSes, Blacklisting of
entities and Enhanced PE-End Security Measure
Posted On: 16 OCT 2025 6:09PM by PIB Delhi
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today convened the 9th Meeting of the Joint Committee
of Regulators (JCoR) at TRAI Headquarters, New Delhi.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with officials from the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MoCA), and
the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
A session was also held with industry representatives wherein discussion was held with Google, Meta,
GSMA, and COAI on various initiatives aimed at enhancing consumer empowerment, trust and safeguarding
users against spam and fraudulent activities perpetrated through digital communication channels.
The JCoR Committee reviewed the progress of pilot project for Digital Consent Acquisition, being
implemented at 11 (eleven) nominated banks, and jointly piloted by TRAI and RBI. The pilot project is
progressing satisfactorily and expected to be completed by February 2026. The committee also reviewed the
implementation status of key decisions taken during the 8th JCoR meeting held on 22nd July 2025 and
deliberated on new agenda items including the deadline for implementation of the 1600-series numbering
plan, misuse of shortened URLs, mandatory whitelisting of URLs/OTT links/APKs/callback numbers sent in
SMSes, and publication of details of blacklisted entities. The discussions focused on regulatory and technical
measures to strengthen consumer protection and enhance the integrity of the digital communication
ecosystem.
Key Outcomes of the Deliberations
1. The committee agreed on completing the pilot of Digital Consent Acquisition by February 2026
with step-wise milestones.
2. The Committee agreed on a phased sunset timeline for migration to the 1600-series numbering
plan in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sectors. Sectoral regulators assured
their support to the agreed timelines.
3. The Committee also discussed differential treatment for small-scale financial/business entities
from 1600 series mandate. TRAI will issue necessary Directions in this regard.
4. Members emphasized the need for mandatory whitelisting of all URLs, OTT links, APKs, and
callback numbers used in commercial communication. TRAI apprised the members about itsdrive to contain misuse of these resources by tagging these links in the approved SMS templates
which require close support from other members. Members assured their wholehearted support
for the exercise.
5. The Committee discussed that TRAI and TSPs may consider publishing the list of entities
blacklisted for spamming activities on their respective websites. This will act as an additional
deterrent for errant entities.
6. The Committee deliberated on TRAI’s draft Direction mandating enhanced PE-end security
measures, including real-time credential validation, CAPTCHA enforcement for OTP systems etc.
TRAI requested members support to ensure the implementation of these security measures.
“In a digitally connected economy, collaboration among regulators of digital services, financial services,
consumer protection and law enforcement agencies is paramount. The Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR)
continues to serve as a vital collaborative platform for orderly use of digital connectivity and action against
spam and cyber fraud. The committee is also engaging with industry representatives as they are important
stakeholders. Today’s decisions reflect our shared commitment to building a secure and transparent digital
communication ecosystem,” said Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, TRAI.
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Samrat/Allen
(Release ID: 2180011)