Marketing spam calls annoy us all. When you are busy with work or driving, you get very angry when you receive such calls. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) itself provides a mechanism to block such calls. TRAI allows you to block all types of spam calls and messages from all regions. Calls can be blocked using DND Mode.

Sometimes spam calls are also aimed at tricking people and extorting money. There are also calls that try to extort money by mistaking it as being from the bank. We usually block the respective numbers to avoid such calls. But next time the calls will come from a different number. Blocking all spam numbers is not the way to go.

You can block spam calls and report them in bulk. We look at the things that can be done to completely prevent spam calls and messages from coming. TRAI itself has prepared a mechanism for this. Alternatively, you can use DND services provided by major telecom companies in India such as Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea and BSNL.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), a National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC) initiative to help users prevent spam calls. We can sign up to this service to block all telemarketing calls and SMS from selected sectors.

Avoid all spam calls

• Open your messaging app and type ‘START’
• Send this message to 1909
• You will get a list of categories like Banking, Hospitality and their codes
• Type the code of the category you want to block and send it

DND service will be active within next 24 hours after receiving request acceptance message

DND activation will only block third party advertising calls. This service does not block SMS alerts from your bank, communications from online portals and services and third party personal calling. DND service can also be activated through your telecom company. Let’s see how it works.

DND on Jio connection

• Go to the MyJio app.
• Select the Settings Service Settings Do Not Disturb option
• Select which category calls and messages you want to block.

DND on Airtel connection

• Go to airtel.in/airtel-dnd
• Enter your mobile number
• Enter the OTP received on your number.
• Select the categories you want to block.

DND on VI connection

• Go to iscover.vodafone.in/dnd
• Enter your mobile number, email id and name.
• Select the categories of marketing calls to block

DND in BSNL

• Text “start dnd” from your BSNL number to 1909
• Select the categories you want to block from the given option
• You can choose to block voice call or SMS only, or both