News in Short

• TRAI says no app can block calls from the 1600 number series.
• The 1600 series is reserved for government and regulated entities.
• Users can block promotional calls from the 140 series using the TRAI DND app.
• The clarification comes amid TRAI’s disagreement with caller ID app Truecaller.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has clarified that phone calls originating from the 1600 number series cannot be blocked by any app, including caller identification and spam filtering services. The regulator said these numbers are reserved for important communications from government departments and regulated entities.

The clarification comes as TRAI continues its disagreement with caller identification platform Truecaller over how calls from the dedicated number series are labelled and identified.

Why 1600 calls cannot be blocked

According to TRAI, the 1600 number series is meant exclusively for essential communication between government agencies, regulated organisations, and citizens. These calls often include banking alerts, public service information, healthcare updates, financial services, and other critical notifications.

Since these communications serve a public purpose, TRAI said no application is permitted to block calls from this number range.

The regulator stressed that users should be able to receive these calls without interference from third-party apps.

DND app can block promotional calls from 140 series

While the 1600 series remains exempt from blocking, TRAI clarified that users can block promotional calls originating from the 140 number series through the official TRAI DND (Do Not Disturb) app.

The 140 series is primarily used for telemarketing and promotional communications. Consumers who do not wish to receive such calls can manage their preferences through the DND platform.

This distinction ensures that important service-related calls continue to reach users while allowing them to reduce unwanted marketing calls.

What this means for users

For smartphone users in India, the clarification means that calls from 1600 numbers should not automatically be treated as spam simply because they originate from an unfamiliar number.

At the same time, users can continue using the DND app to limit promotional calls from the 140 series. TRAI’s latest statement aims to strike a balance between protecting consumers from spam and ensuring they do not miss important communications from banks, telecom operators, government agencies, and other regulated organisations.