Consumers must utilize the official Do Not Disturb (DND) registration process to manage their preferences.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has officially clarified that mobile applications are prohibited from blocking, filtering, or tagging calls originating from the 1600 number series. These specific lines are reserved for government agencies and regulated entities to ensure reliable communication with citizens. Any attempt to obstruct these calls is a violation of current telecommunication regulations.

According to the directive, the 1600 series is utilized by vital institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, and various insurance regulators. These organizations rely on this dedicated infrastructure to conduct essential banking, financial, and insurance related transactions. By designating a unique series, the government aims to enhance the credibility and security of official communications.

Regarding the 140 series, which is primarily used by registered telemarketers for promotional purposes, TRAI emphasized that these cannot be filtered by third party apps. Doing so might cause confusion for users who have explicitly authorized calls from specific service sectors. Instead, consumers must utilize the official Do Not Disturb (DND) registration process to manage their preferences.

Truecaller CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala reported a significant surge in spam activity across both series. He noted that users are blocking over 5 million calls daily, highlighting the growing challenge of spam. Despite these high volumes, TRAI maintains that maintaining the integrity of these official channels is vital for national service delivery.