Why you can trust this course
We don't ask you to take our word for it. Every claim in every lesson is anchored to a Section, Rule, or judgment. This page is the master register of every authority we cite.
Legal basis snapshot: Telecommunications Act 2023 primary-source stack current to 6 September 2026. Core: Telecommunications Act 2023 (Act No. 44 of 2023 assented 24 December 2023, published Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Section 1 same day; sections 1-2, 10-30, 42-44, 46-47, 50-58, 61-62 notified 21 June 2024 effective 26 June 2024; sections 6-8, 48, 59(b) notified 4 July 2024 effective 5 July 2024; sections 3(1) and 3(6) notified 23 June 2026 effective 24 June 2026; sections 4, 5, 9, 31-41, 45, 49, 59(a), 60 unnotified as of 6 September 2026). Rule sets under the Act: (1) Digital Bharat Nidhi Rules 2024 G.S.R. 530(E) dated 20 August 2024 (replaces Universal Service Obligation Fund with 5 percent of AGR Universal Service Levy); (2) Right of Way Rules 2024 dated 17 September 2024 in force 1 January 2025 (single-window online portal sugam.gov.in); (3) Telecom Cyber Security Rules 2024 G.S.R. 720(E) dated 21 November 2024 (6-hour incident reporting plus 24-hour detailed report, Chief Telecommunication Security Officer appointment, IMEI registration); (4) Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure Rules 2024 dated 22 November 2024 (Central Government designation, network architecture disclosure, government inspection access to hardware / software / data); (5) Temporary Suspension of Services Rules 2024 dated 22 November 2024 (Section 20(2)(b) operationalisation, Review Committee 5-day review); (6) Lawful Interception Rules 2024 dated 6 December 2024 (supersedes Rules 419 and 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules 1951, Nodal Officer regime, Central Review Committee under Cabinet Secretary); (7) Adjudication and Appeal Rules 2025 (draft 18 July 2024, final 2025) with Adjudicating Officer of Joint Secretary or above, complaint fee Rs 5,000, appeal fee Rs 10,000, 30-day appeal filing and 60-day resolution; (8) Telecom Cyber Security Amendment Rules 2025 G.S.R. 771(E) dated 22 October 2025 republished vide G.S.R. 796(E) dated 29 October 2025 (Telecommunication Identifier User Entity category, Mobile Number Validation platform); (9) DoT SIM binding directive dated 28 November 2025 to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Arattai, Snapchat, ShareChat, JioChat and Josh with 90-day implementation and 120-day compliance reporting, SIM binding effective February 2026; (10) Principal Telecom Services Rules 2026 G.S.R. 513(E) dated 24 June 2026 (five authorisation categories: Unified Service, Access Service, Wireline Access Service, Internet Service, Long Distance Service; 20-year authorisation validity; Network Service Operator or Virtual Network Operator paths); (11) Migration Rules 2026 (portal opens 25 June 2026); (12) Network Authorisation Rules 2026 dated 20 July 2026 (six network authorisations: Infrastructure Provider IP, Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider DCIP, Internet Exchange Point IXP, Satellite Earth Station Gateway SESG, Cloud-hosted Telecommunication Network CTN, Mobile Number Portability MNP; Rule 25(3) data localisation; only MNP has annual fee); (13) User Identification Rules 2026 dated 21 August 2026 (live biometric mandatory for SIM issuance / replacement / change / surrender, Biometric Identity Verification System, Aadhaar e-KYC and non-Aadhaar D-KYC parallel paths). Parallel TRAI regulations: Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Second Amendment) Regulations 2025 dated 12 February 2025 (header authentication, annual self-certification for senders and telemarketers, complaint mechanism effective 13 April 2025); TRAI Recommendations on Satcom Spectrum dated 9 May 2025 (4 percent of AGR, minimum Rs 3,500 per MHz, urban NGSO additional Rs 500 per subscriber per annum, 5-year review; DCC sought back-reference September 2025). Enforcement corpus: DoT anti-fraud drive (50 million fake mobile connections disconnected in the 2 years to July 2026; 40 lakh SIMs blacklisted, 68 lakh flagged for re-verification, 52,000 Point-of-Sale agents blacklisted in August 2025); November 2025 Sanchar Saathi pre-install directive and its withdrawal; MediaNama RTIs filed March 2026 on SIM binding enforcement transparency. Satcom authorisations: Eutelsat OneWeb (GMPCS August 2021, IN-SPACe November 2023), Jio-SES (GMPCS March 2022, IN-SPACe June 2024), Starlink Services India (Letter of Intent May 2025, GMPCS June 2025, IN-SPACe July 2025, trial spectrum September 2025); no commercial launch as of June 2026. Cross-regulator: Information Technology Act 2000 Section 70A (National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre) for CTI overlap, CERT-In Directions dated 28 April 2022 (effective 27 June 2022) for dual 6-hour incident reporting, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 Section 8 (reasonable security safeguards) for BIVS overlap, Aadhaar Act 2016 and UIDAI regulations for e-KYC integration. Case law: Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India (Writ Petition Civil No. 1031 of 2019, judgment 10 January 2020, three-judge bench of N.V. Ramana, R. Subhash Reddy and B.R. Gavai JJ) on Section 20 suspension doctrine; Faheema Shirin R.K. v State of Kerala (WP(C) No 19716 of 2019, Kerala High Court 19 September 2019, P.V. Asha J) on right to internet access as part of Article 21. Draft rules requiring watch: Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules 2026 (MIB draft 12 June 2026, consultation open until 2 October 2026); Telecommunications (Authorisation for Captive Telecommunication Services) Rules (draft under consideration as of 6 September 2026). Items requiring ongoing verification and flagged inside the affected lessons: exact G.S.R. numbers for the 2026 Rule sets, current status of DCC clarification on TRAI satcom pricing, Starlink commercial launch status, any commercial launch by Jio-SES or OneWeb, finalisation of the Broadcasting Rules 2026 post-consultation, notification of the Captive Services Rules, and any further amendments to the TCS Rules 2024 or the TCS Amendment Rules 2025.
How this Telecommunications Act 2023 + DoT Compliance Practitioner Certification register is built
This trust page is the citation register for the Telecommunications Act 2023 + DoT Compliance Practitioner Certification course. It cites 39 authorities across 23 statutory instruments, drawn from the legal basis snapshot above (Telecommunications Act 2023 primary-source stack current to 6 September 2026. Core: Telecommunications Act 2023 (Act No. 44 of 2023 assented 24 December 2023, published Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Section 1 same day; sections 1-2, 10-30, 42-44, 46-47, 50-58, 61-62 notified 21 June 2024 effective 26 June 2024; sections 6-8, 48, 59(b) notified 4 July 2024 effective 5 July 2024; sections 3(1) and 3(6) notified 23 June 2026 effective 24 June 2026; sections 4, 5, 9, 31-41, 45, 49, 59(a), 60 unnotified as of 6 September 2026). Rule sets under the Act: (1) Digital Bharat Nidhi Rules 2024 G.S.R. 530(E) dated 20 August 2024 (replaces Universal Service Obligation Fund with 5 percent of AGR Universal Service Levy); (2) Right of Way Rules 2024 dated 17 September 2024 in force 1 January 2025 (single-window online portal sugam.gov.in); (3) Telecom Cyber Security Rules 2024 G.S.R. 720(E) dated 21 November 2024 (6-hour incident reporting plus 24-hour detailed report, Chief Telecommunication Security Officer appointment, IMEI registration); (4) Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure Rules 2024 dated 22 November 2024 (Central Government designation, network architecture disclosure, government inspection access to hardware / software / data); (5) Temporary Suspension of Services Rules 2024 dated 22 November 2024 (Section 20(2)(b) operationalisation, Review Committee 5-day review); (6) Lawful Interception Rules 2024 dated 6 December 2024 (supersedes Rules 419 and 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules 1951, Nodal Officer regime, Central Review Committee under Cabinet Secretary); (7) Adjudication and Appeal Rules 2025 (draft 18 July 2024, final 2025) with Adjudicating Officer of Joint Secretary or above, complaint fee Rs 5,000, appeal fee Rs 10,000, 30-day appeal filing and 60-day resolution; (8) Telecom Cyber Security Amendment Rules 2025 G.S.R. 771(E) dated 22 October 2025 republished vide G.S.R. 796(E) dated 29 October 2025 (Telecommunication Identifier User Entity category, Mobile Number Validation platform); (9) DoT SIM binding directive dated 28 November 2025 to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Arattai, Snapchat, ShareChat, JioChat and Josh with 90-day implementation and 120-day compliance reporting, SIM binding effective February 2026; (10) Principal Telecom Services Rules 2026 G.S.R. 513(E) dated 24 June 2026 (five authorisation categories: Unified Service, Access Service, Wireline Access Service, Internet Service, Long Distance Service; 20-year authorisation validity; Network Service Operator or Virtual Network Operator paths); (11) Migration Rules 2026 (portal opens 25 June 2026); (12) Network Authorisation Rules 2026 dated 20 July 2026 (six network authorisations: Infrastructure Provider IP, Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Provider DCIP, Internet Exchange Point IXP, Satellite Earth Station Gateway SESG, Cloud-hosted Telecommunication Network CTN, Mobile Number Portability MNP; Rule 25(3) data localisation; only MNP has annual fee); (13) User Identification Rules 2026 dated 21 August 2026 (live biometric mandatory for SIM issuance / replacement / change / surrender, Biometric Identity Verification System, Aadhaar e-KYC and non-Aadhaar D-KYC parallel paths). Parallel TRAI regulations: Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Second Amendment) Regulations 2025 dated 12 February 2025 (header authentication, annual self-certification for senders and telemarketers, complaint mechanism effective 13 April 2025); TRAI Recommendations on Satcom Spectrum dated 9 May 2025 (4 percent of AGR, minimum Rs 3,500 per MHz, urban NGSO additional Rs 500 per subscriber per annum, 5-year review; DCC sought back-reference September 2025). Enforcement corpus: DoT anti-fraud drive (50 million fake mobile connections disconnected in the 2 years to July 2026; 40 lakh SIMs blacklisted, 68 lakh flagged for re-verification, 52,000 Point-of-Sale agents blacklisted in August 2025); November 2025 Sanchar Saathi pre-install directive and its withdrawal; MediaNama RTIs filed March 2026 on SIM binding enforcement transparency. Satcom authorisations: Eutelsat OneWeb (GMPCS August 2021, IN-SPACe November 2023), Jio-SES (GMPCS March 2022, IN-SPACe June 2024), Starlink Services India (Letter of Intent May 2025, GMPCS June 2025, IN-SPACe July 2025, trial spectrum September 2025); no commercial launch as of June 2026. Cross-regulator: Information Technology Act 2000 Section 70A (National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre) for CTI overlap, CERT-In Directions dated 28 April 2022 (effective 27 June 2022) for dual 6-hour incident reporting, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 Section 8 (reasonable security safeguards) for BIVS overlap, Aadhaar Act 2016 and UIDAI regulations for e-KYC integration. Case law: Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India (Writ Petition Civil No. 1031 of 2019, judgment 10 January 2020, three-judge bench of N.V. Ramana, R. Subhash Reddy and B.R. Gavai JJ) on Section 20 suspension doctrine; Faheema Shirin R.K. v State of Kerala (WP(C) No 19716 of 2019, Kerala High Court 19 September 2019, P.V. Asha J) on right to internet access as part of Article 21. Draft rules requiring watch: Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules 2026 (MIB draft 12 June 2026, consultation open until 2 October 2026); Telecommunications (Authorisation for Captive Telecommunication Services) Rules (draft under consideration as of 6 September 2026). Items requiring ongoing verification and flagged inside the affected lessons: exact G.S.R. numbers for the 2026 Rule sets, current status of DCC clarification on TRAI satcom pricing, Starlink commercial launch status, any commercial launch by Jio-SES or OneWeb, finalisation of the Broadcasting Rules 2026 post-consultation, notification of the Captive Services Rules, and any further amendments to the TCS Rules 2024 or the TCS Amendment Rules 2025.).
Primary sources: Telecom Act 2023 (9 entries), DoT Circular (3 entries), TCS Amendment Rules 2025 (3 entries).
Every claim in every Telecommunications Act 2023 + DoT Compliance Practitioner Certification lesson traces back to a Section, Rule, or judgment listed below.
If a lesson references a specific obligation, click the [Lx-Cy] marker in that
lesson to jump to the verbatim text in the register.
Our verification promise
- Every factual claim has a source. If we say "Section 9 allows a three-month limitation period", you can click the
[Lx-Cy]marker next to it and read the verbatim text of Section 9 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. - Every source is on this page. Below you will find every Section, Rule and judgment we have relied on, grouped by category, with the verbatim text we hold in our register.
- Every source has a public link. Wherever an authoritative public link exists (India Code, the official court website, a reputable law-reports portal), we link to it.
- Bug bounty for errors. If you find a factual error in any lesson, write to [email protected] with the lesson, the claim and the corrected source. We will credit your account ₹1,000 for the first report of any verifiable error, ₹5,000 for a substantial error.
8
modules
40
lessons
39
cited authorities
recent
last reviewed
The full citation register
Every authority used in any lesson appears below. Click a row to expand the verbatim text.
Notified 2025 (draft 18 July 2024) , Adjudication and Appeal Rules 2025 01 Jun 2025
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Adjudication and Appeal) Rules 2025 (draft 18 July 2024, notified 2025) operationalise Section 48 of the Telecom Act 2023. Adjudicating Officer must be of rank not below Joint Secretary. Complaints require filing fee Rs 5,000, identity proof, and supporting evidence. Show-cause notice, personal hearing, reasoned order specifying the Second Schedule slab applied. Appeals to a Designated Appeals Committee within 30 days of the AO order, on a fee of Rs 10,000 and grounds under distinct heads. Appeals must be resolved within 60 days of filing. VERIFY: exact gazette date and G.S.R. number of the final Rules.
The Adjudicating Officer shall, before imposing any civil penalty, issue a show-cause notice to the person alleged to be in breach, provide reasonable opportunity of being heard, and pass a reasoned order specifying the finding of contravention and the civil penalty imposed by reference to the applicable slab of the Second Schedule to the Act. A person aggrieved by the order of the Adjudicating Officer may file an appeal before the Designated Appeals Committee within thirty days of receipt of the order.
CERT-In Directions 28 April 2022 , Dual reporting alongside TCS Rules 28 Apr 2022
Plain summary: CERT-In Directions dated 28 April 2022 issued under Section 70B(6) of the IT Act 2000 (effective 27 June 2022). Applies to service providers, intermediaries, data centres, body corporates and government organisations. Mandates six-hour incident reporting to CERT-In for 20 specified incident types. A single telecom cyber incident often triggers dual reporting: TCS Rules 2024 to DoT (6 hours) and CERT-In Directions 2022 to CERT-In (6 hours). Course teaches the single-runbook approach to satisfy both regulators without duplication. Detailed treatment in the CERT-In Directions Practitioner course.
Any service provider, intermediary, data centre, body corporate and government organisation shall mandatorily report cyber incidents referred to in Annexure I to CERT-In within six hours of noticing such incidents or being brought to notice about such incidents.
Notified 22 November 2024 , CTI Rules 2024 22 Nov 2024
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure) Rules 2024 notified 22 November 2024 under Section 22 read with Section 55(2)(v). Third set of rules under the Telecom Act. Applies to telecommunication networks notified by the Central Government as CTI based on the assessment that disruption would have a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety of the nation. Post-designation obligations: declare network architecture, submit vulnerability / threat / risk analysis and cyber crisis management plan, share security audit reports, and grant government-authorised personnel access to hardware, software, and data for inspection. Six-hour incident reporting (revised from two-hour proposal in the draft) integrated with the TCS Rules.
Where the Central Government is of the opinion that any telecommunication network or part thereof, if disrupted, would have a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety, it may, by notification, declare such telecommunication network or part thereof as Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure, and every telecommunication entity operating such CTI shall comply with the obligations specified in these rules.
Rule for government inspection access , Hardware / software / data access 22 Nov 2024
Plain summary: The CTI Rules 2024 grant government-authorised personnel inspection access to hardware, software, and data of any telecommunication entity operating a designated CTI. Inspection may be on-site or remote as specified in the inspection order. Chain-of-custody is preserved for any evidence obtained. Practical scope: what "data" means (subscriber records, network telemetry, packet captures with judicial sanction), what protocols apply to on-site vs remote inspection, and how the entity documents cooperation for adjudication defence.
Every telecommunication entity operating Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure shall grant access to hardware, software, and data of the CTI to government-authorised personnel for the purpose of inspection, security audit, or investigation, and shall extend all reasonable assistance and cooperation as may be required for such access.
G.S.R. 530(E) dated 20 August 2024 , Digital Bharat Nidhi Rules 2024 20 Aug 2024
Plain summary: First set of rules notified under the Telecommunications Act 2023. Establishes the Digital Bharat Nidhi replacing the Universal Service Obligation Fund. Prescribes powers and functions of the Administrator, criteria for undertaking schemes and projects (underserved geographies including Chhindwara, Bastar, Northeast; underserved groups including women, persons with disabilities, economically and socially weaker sections), selection process for implementers via tender / expression of interest / direct assignment for R&D and pilots, and the disbursement mechanism from the Consolidated Fund of India routed via the DBN account. Funded by the Universal Service Levy of 5 percent of Adjusted Gross Revenue from every authorised telecommunication service provider.
The Administrator shall administer the Digital Bharat Nidhi in accordance with the provisions of the Act and these rules, and shall have such powers and functions including power to select implementers, sanction and disburse funds, monitor implementation, evaluate outcomes, and recover funds in case of default.
SIM binding directive 28 November 2025 , OTT communication apps SIM binding 28 Nov 2025
Plain summary: On 28 November 2025 the Department of Telecommunications issued a formal directive under the TCS Amendment Rules 2025 mandating active SIM linkage for application-based communication platforms. Applies to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Arattai, Snapchat, ShareChat, JioChat, and Josh. App must periodically check that the SIM used at registration is still present and active in the phone. Six-hour mandatory auto-logout for web and desktop versions of the messaging applications. Platforms had 90 days to implement the two technical requirements and 120 days to submit compliance reports. SIM binding effective from February 2026. MediaNama filed RTIs in March 2026 seeking DoT records on which platforms missed the deadline and what enforcement action followed.
All application-based communication service providers operating in India shall implement SIM binding whereby the application shall regularly verify that the SIM card used at the time of registration remains present and active in the device, and shall implement mandatory six-hour auto-logout for web and desktop versions, within ninety days of this direction, and shall submit compliance reports to the Department within one hundred and twenty days.
Sanchar Saathi pre-install withdrawal Nov 2025 , Enforcement over-reach case study 30 Nov 2025
Plain summary: In November 2025 the Central Government issued a directive requiring the Sanchar Saathi app to be pre-installed on all mobile devices sold in India by original equipment manufacturers. Widespread criticism from consumer groups, device manufacturers and civil society (concerns about device tracking, privacy over-reach, absence of a clear statutory basis under the Telecom Act). The government issued a press release clarifying that pre-installation is not mandatory, effectively withdrawing the directive. Case study in enforcement over-reach and subsequent correction; teaches the "reasoned, proportionate, published" doctrine even outside Section 20 suspensions.
The government has clarified that it is not mandatory for handset companies to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application, following criticism of the earlier directive requiring pre-installation on all mobile devices sold nationwide.
DoT anti-fraud drive 50 mn disconnections , Enforcement archetype (2024-2026) 15 Jul 2026
Plain summary: DoT reported disconnecting over 50 million fake mobile connections in the two-year anti-fraud drive to July 2026. Complementary actions in August 2025: 40 lakh SIMs blacklisted, 68 lakh mobile numbers flagged for re-verification, and 52,000 Point-of-Sale agents blacklisted for facilitating fake registrations. Underlying legal basis: Section 42(3)(e) (acquiring SIM through deceitful means, 3 years / Rs 50 lakh, cognizable + non-bailable) combined with Section 3(1) authorisation regime enforcement. Foundation case study for Module 1 lesson 5 (enforcement archetypes).
The Department of Telecommunications, as part of the anti-fraud drive under the Telecommunications Act 2023 and associated Rules, has disconnected over 50 million fake mobile connections in the two years to July 2026, blacklisted 40 lakh SIMs and 52,000 Point-of-Sale agents, and flagged 68 lakh mobile numbers for re-verification.
Sec 8 Reasonable security safeguards , Overlap with User Identification Rules 2026 11 Aug 2023
Plain summary: Section 8 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 requires every Data Fiduciary to protect personal data through reasonable security safeguards to prevent personal data breach. The Biometric Identity Verification System (BIVS) mandated by the User Identification Rules 2026 processes face, fingerprint and iris data which are personal data (and biometric data as a specified subset) under the DPDP Act. Every telecommunication entity operating a BIVS is a Data Fiduciary and must implement DPDP-compliant consent capture, purpose limitation, storage limitation, security safeguards, breach reporting to the Data Protection Board, and data-principal rights (Sec 11 to 14). Overlap teaching in Module 7 lesson 2 (BIVS + DPDP consent).
A Data Fiduciary shall protect personal data in its possession or under its control, including in respect of any processing undertaken by it or on its behalf by a Data Processor, by taking reasonable security safeguards to prevent personal data breach.
Draft Broadcasting Rules 2026 (MIB 12 Jun 2026) , TV / Radio / DTH / IPTV unification draft 12 Jun 2026
Plain summary: Draft Telecommunications (Television, Radio and Associated Services) Rules 2026 published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 12 June 2026 under Section 3 of the Telecom Act 2023. Consolidates six existing sets of broadcasting guidelines (Uplinking and Downlinking, Direct-to-Home, Headend-in-the-Sky, FM Radio Broadcasting Phase III, Community Radio Stations, Internet Protocol Television) into a single unified rulebook. Existing licensees may voluntarily migrate to the authorisation regime or continue under existing terms until expiry (not renewable). Public consultation open until 2 October 2026. VERIFY: final Rules status as of ship date; adjust Module 1 lesson 3 timeline if notified.
These draft rules consolidate the existing guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels, Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS), FM Radio Broadcasting (Phase III), Community Radio Stations, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) into a single unified framework under the Telecommunications Act 2023, and provide existing licensees with an option to voluntarily migrate to the authorisation regime or continue under their existing licences until expiry.
Faheema Shirin v State of Kerala (2019) , Kerala HC on right to internet access 19 Sep 2019
Plain summary: Faheema Shirin R.K. v State of Kerala, WP (C) No 19716 of 2019, Kerala High Court, decided 19 September 2019 (P.V. Asha J). Held that access to the internet forms part of the right to education and the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. Predates and supports the Anuradha Bhasin doctrine. Foundation for the fundamental-rights arguments any telecom-entity may raise when responding to a Section 20 suspension order under the Telecom Act 2023.
The right to have access to internet forms part of the right to education and the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, and any restriction on that right must be reasonable, proportionate, and in accordance with law.
Notified 6 December 2024 , Lawful Interception Rules 2024 06 Dec 2024
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules 2024 notified 6 December 2024 under Section 20 of the Telecom Act 2023. Supersedes Rules 419 and 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules 1951. Authorises Central and State Governments to designate agencies for interception in cases of public emergency, public safety, sovereignty, integrity of India, or crime prevention. Requires appointment of Nodal Officers, maintenance of records with confidentiality and secrecy, and periodic secure destruction. Constitutes Central Review Committee (Cabinet Secretary chair, Secretary of Legal Affairs, Secretary of Telecommunications) and parallel State Review Committee to review every interception order.
All matters relating to interception of messages, including issuance of directions, execution, maintenance of records, and destruction of records, shall be handled only by Nodal Officers designated by the Central Government, the State Government, the authorised agency and the telecommunication entity, with adequate and effective internal safeguards to prevent any unauthorised interception, and with utmost care to maintain confidentiality and secrecy of the intercepted messages.
Section 70A NCTIPC , National Critical Info Infra Protection 05 Feb 2009
Plain summary: Section 70A of the Information Technology Act 2000 (inserted by the Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008) constitutes the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC / NCTIPC) as the nodal agency for critical information infrastructure protection. Any critical telecommunication infrastructure designated under the CTI Rules 2024 that is also designated critical information infrastructure under Section 70 of the IT Act triggers dual reporting to NCIIPC and DoT. Coordination between the two regimes is a common area of Module 5 lesson 4 (CTI + CERT-In + NCIIPC overlap).
The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare any computer resource which directly or indirectly affects the facility of Critical Information Infrastructure, to be a protected system, and shall constitute the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre for the purpose of protection of such systems.
Migration portal opens 25 June 2026 , Terms and Conditions for Migration Rules 2026 25 Jun 2026
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Terms and Conditions for Migration) Rules 2026 prescribe the framework for existing Unified Licence holders (and Unified Licence VNO holders) to migrate to the authorisation regime under Section 3(1) of the Telecom Act. Migration portal on the DoT eServices platform opened on 25 June 2026 for all applicants. A licensee who continues to satisfy the eligibility conditions under the authorisation rules may apply for migration. Non-migrated licences continue on existing terms until expiry but are not renewed. VERIFY: exact G.S.R. number and gazette date, and the specific migration window (voluntary vs deemed) applicable to each licence category.
A licensee holding an authorisation, permission, licence or registration granted under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 that corresponds to a category of authorisation under the Telecommunications Act 2023, and who fulfils the requirement of continued adherence to eligibility conditions, shall be eligible to apply for migration to the corresponding authorisation under these rules through the online portal of the Department of Telecommunications from 25 June 2026 onwards.
G.S.R. 513(E) dated 24 June 2026 , Principal Telecom Services Rules 2026 24 Jun 2026
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Authorisation for Provision of Principal Telecommunication Services) Rules 2026 notified vide G.S.R. 513(E) dated 24 June 2026 by the Ministry of Communications. Operationalises Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecom Act. Replaces the multi-layered Unified Licence framework under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 with a simplified authorisation regime. Prescribes five principal service authorisation categories: Unified Service Authorisation, Access Service Authorisation, Wireline Access Service Authorisation, Internet Service Authorisation, and Long Distance Service Authorisation (LDSA). Authorisation valid for 20 years. Applicants may apply as Network Service Operator (NSO) or Virtual Network Operator (VNO). Data localisation and integration of satellite networks under the authorisation umbrella are core features. VERIFY: gazette PDF for exact terms.
These rules provide the terms and conditions for grant of authorisation for the provision of principal telecommunication services under Section 3(1)(a) of the Telecommunications Act 2023, and prescribe the categories of Unified Service Authorisation, Access Service Authorisation, Wireline Access Service Authorisation, Internet Service Authorisation, and Long Distance Service Authorisation.
Notified 17 September 2024 , RoW Rules 2024 (in force 1 Jan 2025) 17 Sep 2024
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules 2024 notified by DoT on 17 September 2024 after draft consultation opened 11 July 2024. Came into force on 1 January 2025. Single-window online portal (sugam.gov.in) for applications. Prescribes fees ceilings, deemed approval timelines, dispute resolution, mandatory sharing of underground infrastructure. Covers both overhead and underground telecommunication infrastructure on public property including roads, rail, ports, airports, government buildings. VERIFY: exact gazette date (17 vs 19 September 2024 stated inconsistently across secondary sources).
These rules provide the framework for establishment, operation and maintenance of underground and overhead telecommunication infrastructure on public property, including the process for application through the single-window online portal, timelines for grant of right of way, permissible fees, deemed approvals, dispute resolution, and mandatory sharing of infrastructure with other facility providers.
State variant: Odisha RoW Rules 2024 , Illustrative state-level implementation 15 Oct 2024
Plain summary: The Odisha Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules 2024 notified by Government of Odisha implement the central rules at the state level with state-specific fees, application authorities and dispute resolution officers. Illustrative example for the state-variance pattern operators must track across all 28 states and 8 union territories. Other early notifications include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh through 2025.
These rules made by the Government of Odisha under Section 44 read with Section 56 of the Telecommunications Act 2023 shall apply to all public property under the jurisdiction of the State Government, and the application for right of way shall be made to the Nodal Officer notified by the State Government for the relevant local authority.
Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India (2020) , W.P. (C) No. 1031 of 2019, judgment 10 Jan 2020 10 Jan 2020
Plain summary: Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1031 of 2019, decided 10 January 2020 by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court (N.V. Ramana, R. Subhash Reddy, B.R. Gavai JJ). Struck down indefinite internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir. Established that orders under Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 (now Section 20 of the Telecom Act 2023) must be (i) reasoned, (ii) proportionate, (iii) territorially limited, (iv) published, and (v) subject to periodic review. Foundational doctrine for the Temporary Suspension of Services Rules 2024 (22 November 2024) and any telecom-entity response to a Section 20 order. VERIFY: complete case citation for Module 6 lesson 4.
The orders passed under Section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 must adhere to the principles of proportionality and shall not extend beyond a period necessary in the circumstances. Such orders must be reasoned, made available in the public domain, and subject to review by a competent authority within seven working days.
Notified 22 November 2024 , Suspension of Services Rules 2024 22 Nov 2024
Plain summary: Telecommunication (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules 2024 notified 22 November 2024 under Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecom Act 2023. Replaces the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017 made under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. Prescribes procedure for suspension orders (by Central Government or State Government Home Secretary, or Joint Secretary in unavoidable circumstances), 5-day review by a Review Committee (Cabinet Secretary chair at Centre; Chief Secretary chair at State), and power of the Committee to set aside the order if it does not comply with Section 20(2)(b). Order life is 15 days extendable up to 15 days at a time. Requires reasoned, proportionate, geographically limited, published orders per Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India (2020).
The Review Committee shall meet within five working days of the passing of the order for suspension, and shall record its findings whether the direction issued under sub-rule (2) is in accordance with the provisions of section 20(2)(b) of the Act, and if the Committee is of the opinion that the direction is not in accordance with the said provisions, it may set aside the direction.
G.S.R. 771(E) dated 22 October 2025 , TCS Amendment Rules 2025 (operative) 22 Oct 2025
Plain summary: Telecommunication Cyber Security (Amendment) Rules 2025 notified vide G.S.R. 771(E) dated 22 October 2025. Introduces the Telecommunication Identifier User Entity (TIUE) category covering banks, e-commerce platforms, and digital service providers that consume telecom identifiers in customer-facing workflows. Institutionalises the Mobile Number Validation (MNV) platform for real-time verification of mobile numbers against operator databases to curb mule accounts and identity frauds. VERIFY: republished vide G.S.R. 796(E) dated 29 October 2025 due to inadvertent error; the original 22 October 2025 notification continues to be in force and enforceable per PIB press release.
For the purposes of these rules, telecommunication identifier user entity means any entity that uses, verifies, validates or relies upon telecommunication identifiers of subscribers of authorised telecommunication service providers in the provision of its products or services, including banks, non-banking financial companies, e-commerce platforms, and digital service providers.
MNV Platform for identifier validation , Mobile Number Validation architecture 22 Oct 2025
Plain summary: The MNV Platform launched under the TCS Amendment Rules 2025 provides real-time validation of mobile numbers against operator KYC and subscription status. TIUE entities can query the platform to verify (i) whether a number is active, (ii) whether the subscriber name matches the record, (iii) whether the number has been recycled to a new subscriber (relevant for OTP-based authentication reliability), and (iv) whether the number is flagged by DoT for fraud. Access is subject to consent capture and audit trail. Direct implication for banks, fintechs and e-commerce platforms whose fraud loss models depend on stable mobile identifiers.
The Mobile Number Validation Platform shall provide real-time validation services to telecommunication identifier user entities to enable them to verify the status and integrity of mobile numbers of their customers, subject to consent of the subscriber and maintenance of an audit trail of every query.
Republication G.S.R. 796(E) 29 Oct 2025 , Republication note (not superseding) 29 Oct 2025
Plain summary: Due to an inadvertent error, the Telecommunication Cyber Security (Amendment) Rules 2025 were republished in the Gazette of India vide notification G.S.R. 796(E) dated 29 October 2025. However, the Telecommunication Cyber Security (Amendment) Rules 2025 initially notified under G.S.R. 771(E) dated 22 October 2025 continues to be in force and enforceable per the DoT PIB clarification. Operators should cite the 22 October 2025 notification as the effective source. VERIFY: PIB clarification text for the exact framing.
Due to an inadvertent error, the Telecommunication Cyber Security (Amendment) Rules, 2025 were republished in the Gazette of India vide notification G.S.R. 796(E) dated 29.10.2025. However, the Telecommunication Cyber Security (Amendment) Rules, 2025 initially notified under G.S.R. 771(E) dated 22.10.2025, continues to be in force and enforceable.
G.S.R. 720(E) dated 21 November 2024 , Telecom Cyber Security Rules 2024 21 Nov 2024
Plain summary: Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules 2024 notified vide G.S.R. 720(E) dated 21 November 2024 under Section 22 read with Section 55(2)(v) of the Telecom Act 2023. Applies to all telecommunication entities including service providers, network operators, equipment manufacturers and importers. Prescribes appointment of Chief Telecommunication Security Officer (CTSO) who must be an Indian citizen and resident, six-hour incident reporting to the Central Government with detailed report within 24 hours, mandatory IMEI registration for manufacturers and importers pre-first-sale, and cyber crisis management plan.
Every telecommunication entity shall appoint a Chief Telecommunication Security Officer, who shall be an Indian citizen and a resident of India, and shall be responsible for compliance with these rules, coordination with the Central Government on matters of telecom cyber security, and reporting of security incidents in accordance with these rules.
Rule for 6-hour incident reporting , Detection to first report SLA 21 Nov 2024
Plain summary: The TCS Rules 2024 require every telecommunication entity to report a security incident to the Central Government within six hours of detection, with a detailed report submitted within 24 hours containing user impact, geographical scope, and remedial actions taken. Reportable incidents include unauthorised access, data breach affecting subscriber information, denial of service, and any incident with potential to disrupt the telecommunication network. Runs in parallel with the CERT-In 6-hour reporting under CERT-In Directions dated 28 April 2022; a single incident often triggers dual reporting.
On detection of a security incident, the telecommunication entity shall report the incident to the Central Government or authorised body within six hours, and shall furnish a detailed report of the incident including the extent of user impact, the geographical scope, and the remedial actions taken or proposed to be taken, within twenty-four hours of the initial report.
Act No. 44 of 2023 (assented 24 Dec 2023) , The Telecommunications Act, 2023 24 Dec 2023
Plain summary: The Telecommunications Act 2023 (Act No. 44 of 2023) received Presidential assent on 24 December 2023 and was published in The Gazette of India Extraordinary Part II Section 1 the same day. Replaces the Indian Telegraph Act 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933 and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act 1950. Contains 62 sections in 11 chapters plus 3 schedules. Enforcement staggered across three notifications: 21 June 2024 (Sec 1-2, 10-30, 42-44, 46-47, 50-58, 61-62 effective 26 June 2024), 4 July 2024 (Sec 6-8, 48, 59(b) effective 5 July 2024) and 23 June 2026 (Sec 3(1) and 3(6) enabling the authorisation regime). Sections 4, 5, 9, 31-41, 45, 49, 59(a) and 60 remain unnotified as of 6 September 2026.
An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services, telecommunication networks and telecommunication infrastructure; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Second Schedule Civil penalties (graded) , Warning to Rs 5 Crore graded scale 26 Jun 2024
Plain summary: The Second Schedule sets a graded scale of civil penalties for contraventions determined by the Adjudicating Officer under Section 48: written warning, penalty up to Rs 25,000, penalty up to Rs 2 lakh, penalty up to Rs 5 lakh, penalty up to Rs 10 lakh, penalty up to Rs 50 lakh, penalty up to Rs 1 crore, penalty up to Rs 5 crore. The AO chooses the slab having regard to nature, gravity, duration and frequency of the contravention, the disproportionate gain, the loss caused to affected users, and whether any voluntary undertaking under Section 33 was submitted.
Adjudicating Officer shall, having regard to the nature, gravity, duration, frequency and consequences of the contravention, and having regard to the voluntary undertaking, if any, submitted under Section 33, impose a civil penalty in accordance with the graded scale specified in this Schedule.
Section 20 Temporary suspension of services , Section 20(2)(b) internet shutdown power 26 Jun 2024
Plain summary: Section 20(2)(b) empowers the Central Government or a State Government to direct temporary suspension of telecommunication services on the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of public safety, or in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity or security of India, friendly relations with foreign states or public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any offence. Notified 21 June 2024, effective 26 June 2024. Operationalised by the Temporary Suspension of Services Rules 2024 (22 November 2024). Subject to Anuradha Bhasin doctrine (reasoned, proportionate, geographically limited, published, periodically reviewed).
The Central Government or a State Government or any officer specially authorised in this behalf may, if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity or security of India, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any offence, direct that any message or class of messages transmitted through any telecommunication service or telecommunication network shall not be transmitted, or be intercepted or detained or disclosed, or suspend, temporarily, telecommunication service.
Section 33 Voluntary undertaking , Voluntary disclosure and mitigation 26 Jun 2024
Plain summary: Section 33 permits an authorised entity or assignee in breach of authorisation terms to submit a voluntary undertaking before any notice or initiation of determination proceedings. The undertaking discloses the contravention and outlines mitigation measures. Acceptance bars further proceedings. During a hearing an entity may also submit a voluntary undertaking for consideration as a mitigating factor when the adjudicating officer determines civil penalties under the Second Schedule.
Any authorised entity or assignee, in breach of the terms and conditions of authorisation or assignment, may, before the initiation of any inquiry or determination of a contravention, submit a voluntary undertaking to the officer or authority so authorised in this behalf, and such officer may accept the undertaking, whereupon no further proceedings shall be initiated for such breach.
Section 42 Offences and penalties , Criminal penalties for SIM and identifier fraud 26 Jun 2024
Plain summary: Section 42(3) prescribes imprisonment up to three years or fine up to fifty lakh rupees or both for specified offences including (a) unauthorised interception, (c) tampering with telecommunication identifiers, (e) acquiring subscriber identity modules or telecommunication identifiers through deceitful means. Section 42(7) makes these offences cognizable and non-bailable under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973. Section 42(5) prescribes fine up to two crore rupees for tampering with telecommunication infrastructure. Foundation of the DoT enforcement drive that disconnected over 50 million fake mobile connections in the two years to July 2026.
Whoever (a) provides or obtains telecommunication services in contravention of section 3, or (c) tampers with telecommunication identifiers, or (e) uses telecommunication service through obtaining subscriber identity module or telecommunication identifiers through deceitful means, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to fifty lakh rupees, or with both.
Section 44 Right of way , Public property RoW framework 26 Jun 2024
Plain summary: Section 44 empowers a facility provider to seek right of way over public property from the appropriate authority for establishing and maintaining telecommunication networks. Non-discriminatory, non-exclusive and framed to promote shared use of infrastructure. Operationalised by the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules 2024 which came into force on 1 January 2025.
Any facility provider may seek right of way for the purpose of establishing and maintaining any telecommunication network on any public property, and such right shall be granted in accordance with rules made by the Central Government, on a non-discriminatory, non-exclusive basis and shall be exercised in a manner that causes least disruption of common public utility.
Section 6 Assignment of spectrum , Auction vs administrative allocation basis 04 Jul 2024
Plain summary: Section 6 provides that spectrum shall be assigned by auction, except for entries in the First Schedule which are assigned administratively (satellite communication categories including Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite, National Long Distance Satellite, International Long Distance Satellite, and VSAT services). Notified 4 July 2024, effective 5 July 2024. Sits alongside Section 5 (pricing basis) and the First Schedule which was extended to include satcom on the recommendation of TRAI in May 2025.
Save as otherwise provided in this Act, the Central Government shall assign spectrum for telecommunication through auction except for entries listed in the First Schedule, for which assignment shall be done by administrative process.
Section 48 Adjudication mechanism , Adjudicating Officer and Designated Appeals 05 Jul 2024
Plain summary: Section 48 provides for appointment of an Adjudicating Officer (rank of Joint Secretary or above) to inquire into contraventions and impose civil penalties per the Second Schedule. Appeals from the AO lie to a Designated Appeals Committee within 30 days. Notified 4 July 2024, effective 5 July 2024. Operationalised by the Telecommunications (Adjudication and Appeal) Rules 2025 (draft 18 July 2024, final 2025). Complaint filing fee Rs 5,000. Appeal fee Rs 10,000. Appeals must be resolved within 60 days.
The Central Government may, for the purpose of adjudication of contraventions under this Act, appoint an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India, as the Adjudicating Officer, to hold inquiry and impose civil penalties in the manner prescribed and having regard to the Second Schedule.
Section 3 Authorisation for telecom services , Authorisation regime replacing the licence 23 Jun 2026
Plain summary: Section 3(1) requires prior authorisation from the Central Government for provision of telecommunication services (Sec 3(1)(a)) and establishment / operation / maintenance / expansion of telecommunication networks (Sec 3(1)(b)). Section 3(6) empowers the Central Government to make rules prescribing terms and conditions of authorisation. Both were notified on 23 June 2026 with effect from 24 June 2026, triggering the shift from the licence regime under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 to the authorisation regime under the 2023 Act. VERIFY: gazette PDF for the 23 June 2026 notification to confirm exact wording.
Any person who wishes to (a) provide telecommunication services; (b) establish, operate, maintain or expand telecommunication network; or (c) possess radio equipment, shall obtain an authorisation, assignment or as the case may be, exemption for such purpose from the Central Government.
Satcom Spectrum Recommendations May 2025 , TRAI recommendations on satcom pricing 09 May 2025
Plain summary: TRAI released Recommendations on Terms and Conditions for Assignment of Spectrum for Commercial Communication Services offered through Satellite based Systems on 9 May 2025. Recommends administrative allocation of spectrum for GMPCS, FSS (GSO and NGSO) and MSS. Pricing basis: 4 percent of Adjusted Gross Revenue with minimum annual charge Rs 3,500 per MHz. For NGSO-based FSS in urban areas additional Rs 500 per subscriber per annum; rural and remote areas exempt. Assignment for 20 years, pricing reviewed every 5 years. Digital Communications Commission (DCC) sought back-reference from TRAI in September 2025 on the urban subscriber fee and the annual minimum. VERIFY: current status of DCC clarification and any subsequent government notification of final pricing.
The Authority recommends that spectrum for satellite-based commercial communication services shall be assigned administratively, and the spectrum usage charge shall be four per cent of the Adjusted Gross Revenue of the assignee, subject to a minimum annual charge of Rs 3,500 per MHz per annum, and for Non-Geostationary Orbit based Fixed Satellite Service in urban areas an additional charge of Rs 500 per subscriber per annum shall apply.
TCCCPR Second Amendment Regs 2025 , Header authentication, 12 Feb 2025 12 Feb 2025
Plain summary: Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Second Amendment) Regulations 2025 issued by TRAI on 12 February 2025. Amends the TCCCPR 2018 framework. Requires Access Service Providers (ASPs) to authenticate senders using registered headers and ensure traceability of commercial communications. Mandates annual self-certification for registered senders and Telemarketers (TMs) to prevent misuse of header / content templates. Enables customers to identify the type of commercial message from the header prefix (P for Promotional, T for Transactional, S for Service, G for Government). Complaint mechanism provisions came into effect on 13 April 2025. Header registration and content-template approval via DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) platforms operated by ASPs.
Every Access Provider shall authenticate senders using registered headers, ensure that only approved content templates linked to registered headers are delivered as commercial communications, and require every registered sender and telemarketer to submit annual self-certification of compliance with these regulations.
Notified 21 August 2026 , User Identification Rules 2026 21 Aug 2026
Plain summary: Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules 2026 notified 21 August 2026 by the Department of Telecommunications under Section 56 of the Telecom Act. Mandates live biometric verification (face, fingerprint, or iris) for issuance of a new SIM, replacement of a SIM, change of subscriber details on an existing SIM, or surrender of a SIM. Every authorised or licensed telecommunication entity must operate a Biometric Identity Verification System (BIVS). Two parallel verification paths: Aadhaar-based e-KYC (via UIDAI authentication) and non-Aadhaar Digital KYC (D-KYC) using officially valid documents. Draft rules opened for public consultation on 19 September 2025 and were finalised on 21 August 2026. VERIFY: gazette G.S.R. and exclusion-mitigation provisions for elderly / disabled subscribers.
Every authorised or licensed telecommunication entity shall establish and operate a Biometric Identity Verification System, and no SIM shall be issued, replaced, or have its subscriber details changed, or be surrendered, except after live biometric verification of the subscriber through face, fingerprint or iris matching against the identity record furnished at the time of enrolment.
Found an error? We pay for it.
If you find a factual error in any lesson, write to [email protected] with the lesson title, the specific claim, and the corrected source.
- ₹1,000 credit for the first report of any verifiable factual error.
- ₹5,000 credit for a substantial error (e.g. a wrong section number, an obsolete ruling, a misrepresented holding).
- Credit on your dcomply Academy account usable against any future course.
We pay because we'd rather know than not know. If the law changes (and it will), we want to be the first to fix our lessons.
On this page
- 🟢 Our verification promise
- 📊 Course statistics
- 📚 Full citation register
- 🐛 Bug bounty for errors
Maintained by the dcomply Academy editorial team. Last reviewed recently.