TRAI releases clarifications regarding functioning of designated 1600 series and 140 series

Information Note to the Press (Press Release No 91/2026)

For Immediate Release

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

TRAI releases clarifications regarding functioning of designated 1600 series

and 140 series

New Delhi, 10th July, 2026- Certain sections of press and media have brought

out reports, which inter alia have comments/ views regarding functioning of designated

1600 series and 140 series which could potentially lead to misinformation or

misinterpretation of operation of these designated series. The correct regulatory

position in this regard is clarified as under:

(i) TRAI has mandated the use of 1600xx series numbers for service and

transaction calls by regulated entities of BFSI sector i.e. entities regulated by

RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA to their existing customers and by government

entities for government to citizen communication. A key objective of assigning

designated series for these important communications is to make such calls

trustworthy for the customers/ citizen. Under the Telecom Commercial

Communications Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), any tagging,

blocking or filtering of the calls originating from 1600 series numbers is not

permiUed.

(ii) TRAI has mandated use of 140xx series numbers for making

promotional calls by entities of any sector. Entities desirous of availing 140

series number for making promotional calls must register with Telecom Service

Providers under the TCCCPR framework and comply with the provisions of the

regulation. The customers have the right to allow or block promotional call

originating from 140 series numbers from entities of any or all sectors by

registering their preference on the Do Not Disturb (ONO) registry. A customer

who has blocked any or all sectors from receiving promotional calls on the ONO

registry will not receiye any calls from 140 series originating from entities of the

blocked sectors. The customer can register his/her ONO preference through

multiple means including through TRAI ONO App. Any tagging or filtering of

calls from 140 series numbers is not allowed except for blocking on the ONO

registry, as any tagging can mislead a customer who has otherwise allowed

receipt of such calls from a sector on the ONO registry.

~~'ll'

(Harinde~~umar)

Secretary

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India