TRAI's Whitelisting of 140 and 1600 Numbers Raises Spam Concerns, Truecaller CEO Says
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ordered caller identification apps to stop labelling calls from 140 and 1600 number series as spam in late 2025. The move was intended to build trust in legitimate business communications. However, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, CEO of Truecaller, says the decision has inadvertently empowered spammers.
The 140 series is designated for telemarketers, while the 1600 series is used for service and transaction calls from banks, delivery companies, and other institutions. TRAI’s whitelisting meant that apps like Truecaller could no longer attach red “Spam” warnings to these numbers.
In an interview with the Financial Express, Jhunjhunwala stated that spammers are now exploiting the whitelisted series. “Spammers are really enjoying themselves with 140 and 1600 numbers,” he said. He added that the company had warned regulators early on that the policy would cause problems.
According to Truecaller data, around 80% of calls from these series go unanswered, and users manually block nearly 4 lakh calls from 140 numbers and 1.25 lakh from 1600 numbers every day. Jhunjhunwala noted that he himself receives spam from 1600 numbers.
TRAI, on the other hand, defends its framework. The regulator argues that under India’s Do Not Disturb (DND) system, customers can choose which promotional calls they wish to receive. It said that tagging calls from whitelisted numbers as spam “can mislead a customer who has otherwise allowed receipt of such calls from a sector.”
Jhunjhunwala also disclosed that TRAI is seeking authority over caller ID platforms from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Truecaller is regulated under the IT Act, and the CEO alleged that TRAI is trying to expand its jurisdiction.
The conflict highlights a tension between regulatory efforts to streamline legitimate business communications and the practical challenge of preventing spam. As both sides maintain their positions, Indian consumers face increasing uncertainty about the reliability of caller identification.
