The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has confirmed that essential Net Banking and Aadhaar OTP messages will continue to be delivered on time from December 1. This assurance follows rumors on social media suggesting potential delays. TRAI clarified that recent regulatory updates, designed to improve message traceability, will not impact the timely delivery of such critical messages.
No delay in OTP delivery – TRAI pic.twitter.com/c6Yu89xi6k
— DoT India (@DoT_India) November 29, 2024
In response to rising cybercrime, including fraudulent calls and messages, TRAI implemented new rules on October 1. These rules mandate telecom providers to establish systems for tracking the origins of bulk SMS traffic to enhance security. Initially, the compliance deadline was October 31, but telecom operators, citing technical challenges, requested and received an extension until November 30.
Message traceability enables telecom companies to identify the source of bulk SMS traffic, playing a vital role in curbing fraudulent activities. By tracing the origins of scam messages, authorities can take action against offenders more effectively.
Despite technical challenges raised by telecom operators, TRAI has reassured users that these measures will not compromise the speed or reliability of OTP deliveries. The regulatory body emphasized its commitment to maintaining uninterrupted access to banking and identification services.
In addition to message traceability, TRAI introduced measures on August 13, 2024, to combat unauthorized promotional calls. These include penalties such as disconnection of telecom resources, blacklisting offenders for up to two years, and restrictions on obtaining new resources during the penalty period.
These initiatives have shown results, with a decline in spam call complaints. Access providers reported 1.89 lakh complaints in August 2024, which dropped to 1.63 lakh in September and further to 1.51 lakh in October—a 20% decrease compared to August.
