No, robocalls (automated pre-recorded or AI-generated voice calls) are generally not legal in India for commercial/promotional purposes without strict compliance — and in practice, most unsolicited robocalls violate regulations.
Here’s the current legal position in India (as of January 2026) under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) rules, particularly the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018 and its Second Amendment in February 2025:
Key Rules on Robocalls
– Robocalls are defined as calls using artificial/pre-recorded voice to deliver messages without live human interaction on the calling side.
– Promotional / commercial robocalls (marketing, sales, offers etc.) are heavily restricted:
– They require prior explicit consent from the recipient.
– They must follow Do Not Disturb (DND / NCPR) preferences — if someone has registered to block promotional calls, robocalls are prohibited.
– Senders must notify their originating telecom provider (access provider) in advance about using auto-dialers or robocalls, including the purpose.
– Promotional robocalls should only use special number series (e.g., 140-series).
– Using ordinary 10-digit mobile/landline numbers for bulk promotional robocalls is illegal (treated as unregistered telemarketing → leads to disconnection/blacklisting).
– Transactional / service robocalls (e.g., bank OTP alerts, appointment reminders, genuine service notifications) are allowed with fewer restrictions and can use other series (e.g., 1600-series or similar).
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Practical Reality in 2025–2026
– Most annoying robocalls people receive (insurance offers, loan offers, credit card sales, “lucky draw” scams etc.) are illegal because:
– They violate DND preferences
– They come from unregistered telemarketers (UTMs)
– They use spoofed/normal numbers instead of designated series
– They lack proper consent
– TRAI and telecom operators actively block/disincentivize such calls through UCC detection systems, blacklisting, financial penalties, and disconnection of numbers.
– The 2025 amendment specifically strengthened rules around auto-dialers/robocalls to curb spam and fraud.
What You Can Do If You Receive Robocalls
– Register for DND (fully block promotional calls) via:
– Call/SMS to 1909
– TRAI DND App
– Report every unwanted commercial call:
– SMS/CALL to 1909
– TRAI DND App
– Within 3–7 days of receiving the call
– Operators must act quickly (many resolve within 5 working days now).
Bottom line (Jan 2026): Legitimate transactional robocalls (with proper purpose) can be legal. Almost all unsolicited promotional/marketing robocalls are illegal in India — and TRAI has been tightening the screws every year. If it’s annoying spam, it’s most likely against the law. Report it!
