TRAI and RBI Join Hands to Tackle Spam Through a Digital Consent Pilot
Spam messages and fake calls have become a major issue in India. Therefore, to fight this growing problem, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have started a Digital Consent Acquisition and Management Pilot.
This project started on June 13, 2025. It will be tested in a controlled environment known as a regulatory sandbox. You can read the official TRAI announcement here.
Why Is This Initiative So Important?
Despite the existing laws, like the TCCCPR 2018, spam still reaches users. In many cases, these unwanted messages try to trick people into sharing personal or financial details.
As a result, users continue to face risks even after opting out of marketing communication.
What Is This Pilot Trying to Do?
To solve this problem, the pilot introduces a few key features:
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Digital Consent Registry (DCR)
Firstly, all user consents will be stored in one digital system. This way, companies can only message users who have given permission. -
Real-Time Consent Verification
Secondly, the system will check whether a sender has permission in real time. Consequently, messages sent without proper consent will be blocked. -
Use Across All Telecom Providers
In addition, this system will work with all major telecom companies. That means your choice will follow you, no matter which provider you use.
You can also learn more about the RBI sandbox framework here.
Why Is the Banking Sector First?
The banking sector is often targeted by fraudsters. Because of this, banks are the first to try the new system. If the pilot succeeds, it will expand to other areas, such as:
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Insurance
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Fintech
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E-commerce
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Digital loan apps
What Are the Benefits for You?
This system has many advantages for mobile users:
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More control: You choose who can contact you.
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Better protection: Fraudulent senders are blocked.
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Greater trust: You’ll know who is sending the message and for what reason.
In fact, this system supports global standards like the EU’s GDPR and Canada’s CASL law, which also protect user privacy.
What Happens Next?
For now, the pilot will run with selected banks and telecom companies. Later, based on the results, it will be shared with more sectors.
Eventually, if it works well, it could become a national model. In the future, all businesses may need to follow it for messaging customers.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the TRAI-RBI Digital Consent Pilot is a step forward in making communication more secure. It gives you more control over who can contact you and how.
“In a digital world, your permission should be your protection.”
With your support, this system could change how India handles spam forever.