# Government empowers TRAI to penalise telecom operators

> Government plans to give TRAI power to penalise telecom operators for flouting pesky call rules.
- Title: Government empowers TRAI to penalise telecom operators
- Summary: Government plans to give TRAI power to penalise telecom operators for flouting pesky call rules.
- Keywords: trai, telecom operators, pesky calls, complaints, 2025, unregistered telemarketers, blacklisting, financial penalties, department of telecom, telecommunications dispute settlement an, The Economic Times
- Source: The Economic Times — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/government-plans-to-empower-trai-to-penalise-telecom-operators-for-flouting-rules/articleshow/135606594.cms
- Author: PTI
- Published: 2026-11-06T12:07:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: trai, telecom operators, pesky calls, complaints, 2025, unregistered telemarketers, blacklisting, financial penalties, department of telecom, telecommunications dispute settlement an
## Complaints surge
Consumers filed 20.75 lakh complaints against pesky callers in first half of 2025, 66 per cent of total 31.09 lakh complaints filed in 2025.
## TRAI power gap
TRAI lacks authority to impose financial penalties on telecom operators for flouting rules on pesky calls and SMSes.
## DoT delays
Department of Telecom has not executed penal orders due to legal-technical issues and reduced bank guarantees post 2021 telecom reforms.
## TDSAT stay order
Telecom operators challenged TRAI's penal orders and obtained a stay order from Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.
## Complaints trend
Complaints against pesky callers rose 60 per cent to 31.09 lakh in 2025 from 19.38 lakh in 2024.
## Blacklisting surge
1,406 telemarketer entities blacklisted in first half of 2026, up from 995 in 2025.
## Key takeaway

Government will empower TRAI to penalise telecom operators for unregistered telemarketers after 20.75 lakh complaints in 2025.