No app can block calls from 1600 number series: TRAI
TRAI said calls from the 1600 series cannot be blocked by apps, while promotional calls from the 140 series can be blocked only through the DND registry.
AI generated- TRAI clarified that no app can block calls from the 1600 number series, and that promotional calls from the 140 series can be blocked only through the DND registry.
- The 1600 number series is reserved for communications from regulated entities and government bodies to citizens.
- The 140 number series is used for promotional calls, which TRAI said cannot be labelled or filtered by apps.
- The Do Not Disturb registry is the mechanism TRAI said must be used to block 140-series promotional calls.
TRAI has clarified that apps cannot block calls from the 1600 number series. The regulator said this series is reserved for communications from regulated entities and government bodies to citizens, and the purpose is to keep such calls trustworthy.
TRAI also said that promotional calls from the 140 series cannot be labelled or filtered by apps. Such calls can be blocked only through the Do Not Disturb (DND) registry managed by the regulator.
The clarification comes amid a dispute with caller-identification app Truecaller over tagging and identification of these numbers. The regulatory position strengthens the role of telecom rules over app-based call filtering.
UPSC may ask how a regulator balances consumer choice, fraud prevention, and the need for trusted official communication channels. The issue also raises the question of whether private caller-identification apps can influence or override regulatory numbering rules.
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