TRAI DND Activate: Block Spam Calls & SMS India

Tired of spam calls and promotional SMS? TRAI's Do Not Disturb (DND) service lets you block unwanted commercial communications. Once registered, telemarketers are legally prohibited from contacting you. Here's how to activate it.

What is TRAI DND?

DND (Do Not Disturb) is a free service by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) that blocks unsolicited commercial calls and SMS. Under TCCCPR (Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations), registered telemarketers face penalties for violating DND preferences.

Key facts:

• Completely free to activate
• Works on all operators — Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL
• Takes effect within 7 days of registration
• You can selectively allow certain categories if needed

How to Activate DND

Method 1: SMS to 1909 (Easiest)

Send an SMS from your mobile number:

Example: To block all spam → Send START DND to 1909

You will receive a confirmation SMS. DND activates within 7 days.

Method 2: Call 1909

• Call 1909 from your mobile
• Follow the IVR prompts to activate DND
• Select full block or category-wise preferences

Method 3: TRAI DND App

Download the official TRAI DND app:

• Android: Available on Google Play Store — search "TRAI DND"
• iPhone: Available on App Store — search "TRAI DND"

Features of the app:

• Register for DND
• Set category preferences
• Report spam calls and SMS directly from call log
• Track complaint status

Method 4: Contact Your Operator

Call your operator's customer care and request DND activation:

• Jio: 198
• Airtel: 121
• Vi: 199
• BSNL: 1800-180-1503

DND Categories

You can choose to block all commercial communications or selectively allow specific categories:

To block specific categories: Send START DND 1,3,5 to 1909 (blocks Banking, Education, and Consumer categories).

To allow only certain categories: Send START DND first (blocks all), then send STOP DND <category> to allow specific ones.

How to Register a Spam Complaint

If you receive spam calls or SMS even after activating DND:

Via TRAI DND App (Recommended)

1. Open the TRAI DND app
2. The app automatically detects recent calls and SMS
3. Select the spam call/message
4. Tap Report and confirm
5. The complaint is sent directly to TRAI

Via SMS

Send an SMS to 1909 with details of the spam:

• For spam call: <Spammer's number> <date of call in dd/mm/yyyy>
• For spam SMS: Forward the spam SMS to 1909

Complaint Timeline

• Complaint must be filed within 3 days of receiving spam
• Your operator investigates within 7 days
• If the complaint is valid, the telemarketer faces penalties:
  • First offence: Disconnection of telemarketing number
  • Repeated offences: Blacklisting for up to 2 years

Important Tips

1. DND does not block transactional messages — OTPs, bank alerts, delivery updates, and government notifications will still come through
2. Register complaints promptly — you have only 3 days to report spam after receiving it
3. Use the TRAI DND app for easiest complaint registration — it auto-captures call/SMS details
4. Check your DND status anytime by sending STATUS DND to 1909
5. Be patient — DND takes up to 7 days to fully activate; spam may continue during this period

Processing Time

• DND activation: Up to 7 days after registration
• Complaint resolution: 7 days from filing
• Category preference changes: Take effect within 7 days

FAQs

Will DND block all calls and messages?

No. DND only blocks unsolicited commercial communications from registered telemarketers. Personal calls, transactional messages (OTPs, bank alerts), and government messages are not affected.

Is DND free?

Yes. Activating DND and filing complaints is completely free. There are no charges from TRAI or your operator.

Can I receive promotional offers from specific companies after DND?

If you have given explicit consent to a company (e.g., opted in on their website), they can still send you messages. You can withdraw consent by contacting them directly.

I activated DND but still get spam. What should I do?

File a complaint via the TRAI DND app or SMS to 1909 within 3 days. Also check if you accidentally gave consent to the company sending the messages.

How do I deactivate DND?

Send STOP DND to 1909. DND will be deactivated within 7 days.

Does DND work on landline numbers?

Yes. You can activate DND on landline numbers by calling 1909 from your landline.

Will DND block spam from international numbers?

DND is effective against registered Indian telemarketers. International spam may not be fully blocked. You can use your phone's built-in call blocking for those.

Disclaimer: CitizenNest is an independent informational platform and is not affiliated with TRAI or any telecom operator. Information is based on official TRAI guidelines. Visit trai.gov.in for official details.