The Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, shared significant details in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the government’s efforts to combat the persistent issue of spam calls and messages. Recent data reveals a staggering number of complaints regarding unsolicited communications, demonstrating the urgency of effective measures to address this widespread concern.

In 2025 alone, telecom service providers (TSPs) received an overwhelming total of more than 3.6 million complaints related to unsolicited commercial communications (UCC). This includes complaints against both unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) and registered telemarketers (RTMs). Specifically, the complaints ranged from a peak of 394,066 in August to 148,120 in January, illustrating fluctuating consumer frustration throughout the year.

TRAI’s Regulatory Response

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken significant strides in regulating UCC through the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR). This framework incorporates a dual strategy focused on enabling legitimate communications from registered entities while implementing strict measures to disrupt unsolicited communications from unregistered senders.

As part of these regulations, over 300,000 senders and 21,000 telemarketers have already registered on the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform. Notably, TRAI allows customers to express their preferences regarding promotional communications from registered telemarketers and provides a means to lodge complaints within a week through various channels including mobile apps, SMS, and dedicated helplines.

Challenges and Innovations

While measures have been implemented to curb spam, challenges remain. A majority of spam complaints originate from unregistered telemarketers who exploit regular 10-digit numbers to evade DLT scrutiny. In response, leading TSPs are now employing artificial intelligence solutions to identify potential spam and alert consumers accordingly.

In December 2025, an average of over 75 million spam SMS and calls were blocked daily thanks to the proactive measures of the DLT system. Furthermore, TRAI has mandated telecom providers to use specific series numbers for commercial calls and has extended the sanctions against telemarketers violating UCC regulations.

Enforcement and Penalties

The regulatory body has implemented stringent measures including the disconnection of telecom resources related to violators. This initiative has led to the disconnection of approximately 2.1 million telecom connections linked to unsanctioned commercial communication practices. Additionally, TRAI has levied financial penalties totaling ₹153.8 crore on TSPs failing to address UCC complaints in compliance with TCCCPR.

As these efforts continue to evolve, TRAI aims to enhance consumer protection in the telecom sector, ensuring a more secure communication environment for all users.

Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.

Follow Us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, & LinkedIn

Follow Us