The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a direction that mandates banks, mutual funds, and pension fund companies to switch to a dedicated 1600-series number. The plan is to phase the rollout by March 2026 to help customers spot genuine calls, reduce spam, and prevent fraud.

WHY THE 1600-SERIES MATTERS

This directive comes after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allocated the “1600” numbering block specifically to regulated financial institutions and government bodies.

TRAI says this will help citizens identify trusted financial calls more reliably, that is, they’ll know when a call really comes from their bank or pension provider.

Right now, around 485 financial entities are already using the 1600-series, covering more than 2,800 numbers. But many are stil

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