TRAI Assures Public: No Delay in Net Banking and Aadhaar OTP Messages

TRAI Assures Public: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reassured the public that there will be no delay in the delivery of essential messages like Net Banking and Aadhaar OTPs starting December 1. This comes in response to misinformation spreading on social media, claiming that these messages would be affected by new regulations. TRAI has clarified that the timely delivery of such messages will remain unaffected, thanks to recent improvements in message traceability.

New Regulations to Fight Cybercrime and Fake Messages

In recent months, TRAI has been focusing on tackling cybercrimes, including fake calls and fraudulent messages. To address this issue, the authority introduced new rules on October 1, requiring telecom companies to implement a system to trace the origins of bulk SMS messages. This system is aimed at reducing fraudulent activity by allowing authorities to track and identify those behind the schemes.

The original deadline for implementing these measures was set for October 31, but telecom companies requested more time due to technical challenges. As a result, TRAI extended the deadline to November 30.

What is Message Traceability?

Message traceability allows telecom companies to identify the source of bulk SMS traffic, helping to prevent the spread of fraudulent messages. Without traceability, it becomes much harder to detect and take action against scammers. TRAI’s new system will enable authorities to track the origin of suspicious messages, making it easier to prosecute those involved in illegal activities.

TRAI Reassures Public About OTP Deliveries

Despite concerns from telecom companies about the technical difficulties of setting up the new system, TRAI has assured the public that the delivery of OTPs for Net Banking and Aadhaar will not be delayed. The regulator has emphasized that the changes will not affect the speed or reliability of these important services, ensuring that users can continue accessing banking and identification services without any issues.

Efforts to Curb Unauthorised Promotional Calls

In addition to the new rules on message traceability, TRAI has also introduced stricter guidelines to stop unauthorized promotional calls. Since August 2024, telecom operators who break these rules face severe penalties, including disconnection of services, blacklisting for up to two years, and restrictions on acquiring new resources during that period.

Positive Results in Reducing Spam Calls

TRAI’s efforts to reduce spam calls have started showing positive results. The number of complaints regarding spam calls has steadily decreased. In August 2024, telecom providers received 1.89 lakh complaints, which dropped to 1.63 lakh in September (a 13% reduction), and further to 1.51 lakh in October, showing a 20% decline compared to August.

TRAI’s actions are aimed at improving user experience by tackling cybercrime and reducing spam calls, while also ensuring that important services like OTPs for banking and Aadhaar remain reliable and timely.

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SUMMARY

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has assured the public that there will be no delays in important messages like Net Banking and Aadhaar OTPs starting December 1. This comes after rumors spread on social media that these services would be affected. TRAI explained that new rules introduced in October to track the source of bulk SMS messages will help reduce fraud and cybercrimes. While telecom companies faced technical challenges, TRAI confirmed that the delivery of OTPs would not be impacted.

The new system, called message traceability, will help identify the source of fraudulent messages and make it easier to catch scammers. TRAI also introduced strict rules in August to stop unauthorized promotional calls, with severe penalties for violators. These measures have already led to a decline in spam call complaints. Overall, TRAI’s efforts aim to improve security and ensure the smooth delivery of essential services.