TRAI Sets Deadlines for BFSI Firms Transition to '1600' Calling Series for Service, Transactional Calls

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has released a structured timeline for regulated financial institutions to transition to the 1600 numbering series. The move follows ongoing efforts to limit impersonation-based fraud and strengthen trust in service and transactional voice calls. 

Timelines for Banks, Stockbrokers, Mutual Funds and Other Financial Entities 

As per news reports, TRAI said, “TRAI today issued a direction mandating the last dates by which adoption of the ‘1600’ numbering series should be completed by entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI, and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).”  

Commercial banks, including public sector, private sector and foreign banks, must complete onboarding by January 1, 2026.  

Mutual funds and asset management companies have a deadline of February 15, 2026, while qualified stockbrokers are required to adopt the series by March 15, 2026. TRAI added that “For the time being, other SEBI-registered intermediaries may voluntarily migrate to the 1600-series after verification of their registration details.” 

Requirements for NBFCs, Pension Entities and Other Regulated Institutions 

Among entities overseen by the Reserve Bank of India, large NBFCs, payments banks and small finance banks must transition by February 1, 2026. Remaining NBFCs, co-operative banks, regional rural banks and smaller institutions are required to shift by March 1, 2026.  

TRAI stated that “Central recordkeeping agencies (CRAs) and pension fund managers shall onboard by February 15, 2026.”  

Mandating the final date for insurance-sector entities is under discussion with IRDAI and will be announced later.  

TRAI emphasised that the 1600 numbering series has been allocated by the Department of Telecommunications for BFSI organisations and government departments so users can clearly distinguish official communications. 

Objective of the Number Series and Current Adoption Progress 

According to TRAI, the 1600-series mandate aims to enhance consumer trust, curb spam and prevent fraudulent calls that mimic legitimate institutions.  

The regulator noted that these efforts, about 485 entities have already adopted 1600 series, subscribing to a total of over 2800 numbers. TRAI said that ongoing coordination with telecom operators and financial regulators helped shape the implementation of roadmap.  

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Conclusion 

The mandated adoption of the 1600 numbering series creates a unified framework for authenticating voice calls from regulated financial institutions. With clear deadlines for all major categories of entities, the initiative aims to reduce impersonation risks and improve the reliability of communication across the BFSI ecosystem. 

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