How to Stop Spam Calls in India: DND, 1909 and TRAI App

You can stop most promotional calls and SMS in India by registering your number on the national Do Not Disturb (DND) list through 1909, the TRAI DND app or your operator’s app. It is free, takes a few minutes, and lets you block everything or only certain categories such as loans, real estate or insurance.

Very few people use it. TRAI data for April-June 2026 shows only about 224 million of 1.348 billion mobile users, around 16%, have set DND preferences. In that same quarter, DND settings blocked about 1.48 billion promotional calls and 7.3 billion promotional SMS.

Method 1: Activate DND by SMS or call to 1909

This works on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL. Send the SMS from the number you want to protect.

Also readHow to Check How Many SIM Cards Are in Your Name

1. To block all promotional calls and SMS, send FULLY BLOCK to 1909. Some operators also accept START 0.
2. To block only some categories, send START followed by the category number, for example START 1.
3. You can also call 1909 (toll-free) and follow the voice menu.
4. You will get a confirmation SMS from your operator.

BSNL uses a slightly different flow: send START DND to 1909, then reply BLOCK 10 to stop all telemarketing, or BLOCK followed by a category number.

DND category codes

Code	Category
1	Banking, insurance, financial products, credit cards
2	Real estate
3	Education
4	Health
5	Consumer goods and automobiles
6	Communication, broadcasting, entertainment, IT
7	Tourism and leisure

Partial blocking is useful if you still want offers from, say, travel sites but not loan agents.

Method 2: Use your operator’s app or website

• Jio: MyJio app, menu, Settings, Service Settings, Do not disturb. Choose Fully Blocked and submit.
• Airtel: go to airtel.in/airtel-dnd, enter your number, verify the OTP and choose Stop All.
• Vi: Vi app, My Account, DND, then pick your preferences. You can also use the DND page on the Vi website.

Operators can take up to 7 days to apply the change, though Jio says it usually reflects within 24 hours.

DND works per number, not per person or per phone. If you use a dual-SIM phone, or pay for your parents’ connections, register each number separately. Older family members get the most loan, insurance and investment calls, so their numbers are worth doing first. If you port your number to another operator, open the new operator’s app and confirm your DND preference is still showing.

Method 3: Use the TRAI DND app to block and complain

The TRAI DND app, available on Android and iPhone, lets you set preferences and report spam in one place. It is by far the most used complaint channel: TRAI says it handled about 89% of the roughly 10.85 lakh spam complaints filed in April-June 2026.

Under rules TRAI tightened in 2025, you can now report a spam call or SMS within 7 days of receiving it, up from 3 days. You can complain about unregistered senders even if you have not activated DND. Keep the sender’s number, the date and a short note on what the call was about, and a screenshot helps.

What DND will and will not stop

Legitimate promotional calls must now come from numbers starting with 140, and service or transactional calls from banks, insurers and government bodies come from the 1600 series. DND blocks the 140 promotional traffic. It does not block OTPs, bank alerts or delivery updates, so you will not miss important messages.

DND does not stop scammers calling from ordinary 10-digit mobile numbers, because they ignore the rules anyway. That is where complaints matter. Telemarketers who break the rules face a 15-day bar on all their numbers for a first violation, and one-year disconnection and blacklisting for repeat offences. In April-June 2026 alone, about 1.83 lakh telecom resources faced action.

Extra steps that cut spam further

• Android: in the Google Phone app, open Settings, then Caller ID and spam, and turn on filtering of spam calls.
• iPhone: go to Settings, Apps, Phone and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from saved contacts still ring.
• Fraud calls: report suspected fraud calls and messages on the Chakshu section of the Sanchar Saathi portal, not just through DND.
• Check your SIMs: spam is sometimes a sign your number details are being misused. See how to check how many SIM cards are in your name.

If a caller asks for an OTP, a screen-sharing app or an APK install, hang up. Our guide to the fake APK scam on WhatsApp explains what to do if you have already tapped a link.

How to deactivate or change DND

You can change your preferences after 30 days. To turn DND off completely, send STOP DND to 1909 or use your operator’s app. Note that you can withdraw consent from a brand’s messages at any time using the opt-out option that promotional messages must now carry, and that brand cannot ask for your consent again for 90 days.

Frequently asked questions

How do I activate DND on my mobile number?

Send FULLY BLOCK to 1909 from your number, call 1909, or use the TRAI DND app or your operator's app (MyJio, Airtel website, Vi app).

How long does DND take to start working?

Operators can take up to 7 days to apply your DND request. Jio says changes usually reflect within 24 hours.

Will DND block OTP and bank messages?

No. DND blocks promotional communication only. OTPs, bank alerts and other transactional or service messages continue.

How do I complain about a spam call?

Use the TRAI DND app or call or SMS 1909 within 7 days, with the caller's number, the date and a brief description.

Why do I still get spam calls after activating DND?

DND stops registered telemarketers. Fraudsters using ordinary 10-digit numbers ignore it, so report those calls on the TRAI DND app or Sanchar Saathi Chakshu.