Key Participants and Discussions
The meeting brought together representatives from major regulatory bodies, including:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MoCA)
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
A dedicated session was held with industry stakeholders such as Google, Meta, GSMA, and COAI to discuss initiatives enhancing consumer empowerment, building trust, and protecting users from spam and fraudulent activities across digital communication channels.
Progress Review and New Agenda Items
The JCoR reviewed:
- Digital Consent Acquisition Pilot: Jointly implemented by TRAI and RBI at 11 nominated banks, progressing satisfactorily with completion expected by February 2026.
- Implementation status of decisions from the 8th JCoR meeting (July 22, 2025).
- New items including the 1600-series numbering plan deadline, misuse of shortened URLs, mandatory whitelisting of URLs/OTT links/APKs/callback numbers in SMSes, and publication of blacklisted entities.
Discussions emphasized regulatory and technical measures to bolster consumer protection and maintain the integrity of the digital communication ecosystem.
Major Outcomes and Decisions
Digital Consent Acquisition Pilot
The committee agreed to complete the pilot by February 2026 with defined step-wise milestones.
1600-Series Numbering Plan Migration
- Phased sunset timeline established for BFSI sectors.
- Sectoral regulators committed support to implementation timelines.
- Differential treatment considered for small-scale financial/business entities; TRAI to issue necessary directions.
Mandatory Whitelisting Initiative
Members endorsed mandatory whitelisting of all URLs, OTT links, APKs, and callback numbers in commercial communications. TRAI highlighted efforts to curb misuse by integrating these into approved SMS templates, with full support assured from other members.
Blacklisting Transparency
TRAI and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) will consider publishing lists of blacklisted spamming entities on their websites to deter violations.
Enhanced PE-End Security Measures
Discussions covered TRAI’s draft Direction for measures like real-time credential validation and CAPTCHA enforcement for OTP systems. Members pledged support for implementation.
Chairman’s Statement
“In a digitally connected economy, collaboration among regulators of digital services, financial services, consumer protection, and law enforcement agencies is paramount. The Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) continues to serve as a vital collaborative platform for orderly use of digital connectivity and action against spam and cyber fraud. The committee is also engaging with industry representatives as they are important stakeholders. Today’s decisions reflect our shared commitment to building a secure and transparent digital communication ecosystem,” said Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, TRAI.