Compliance guides
Messaging Compliance in India
SMS, WhatsApp, voice and RCS rules for businesses messaging customers in India.
Overview
Commercial SMS in India is governed by TRAI's Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR, 2018). Every sender must register on a DLT platform, get sender IDs (headers) and content templates approved, and respect customer preferences recorded in the DND registry. Promotional SMS can only be delivered in the permitted daytime window.
Websites and campaigns that collect personal data from Indian users should follow the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: clear notice, a lawful purpose, consent where required and reasonable security safeguards.
Google is the dominant search engine in India, and many searches mix English with Hindi or regional languages, so keyword research should include Hinglish and local-language variations.
Advertising Rules
Ad campaigns should follow Google and Meta advertising policies, the ASCI code for advertising content and influencer disclosures, and sector rules for areas such as healthcare, finance and real estate (for example, RERA registration details for property ads).
Guides by Channel
SMS in India
Commercial SMS in India is governed by TRAI's Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR, 2018).
Read the guide →WhatsApp in India
WhatsApp Business API messaging must follow Meta's business and commerce policies, including opt-in and template approval.
Read the guide →Voice Call in India
Promotional voice calls in India fall under TRAI's TCCCPR framework: they must use designated number series, honour DND preferences and carry approved content, while service and transactional calls require proper customer consent..
Read the guide →RCS in India
RCS business messaging in India requires brand verification and depends on device, messaging app and operator support.
Read the guide →Digital Habits and Channels in India
India has over a billion mobile connections and is WhatsApp's largest market, so WhatsApp, SMS and voice all play a big role in reaching customers. Commercial SMS and calls are governed by TRAI's Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018, which created the DLT system where businesses register as entities, register headers (sender IDs) and content templates, and record consent. Since October 2024, links, APKs and call-back numbers in SMS must be whitelisted on DLT, and messages with unregistered URLs are blocked.
TRAI's February 2025 amendment requires promotional voice calls to use the 140 number series and service and transactional calls to use the 1600 series, and allows customers to report spam calls and messages within seven days of receipt. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, with the DPDP Rules notified on 13 November 2025, introduces consent and notice requirements that apply in phases, with most obligations taking effect by May 2027. UPI is used for most digital payments.
Practical Details
Country code +91; time zone Asia/Kolkata; currency Indian rupee (INR).
Cities we cover in India
- Bhopal
- Indore
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Pune
- Ahmedabad
- Jaipur
- Lucknow
- Nagpur
- Surat
- Chandigarh
- Noida
- Gurugram
- Raipur
- Jabalpur
- Gwalior
- Kanpur
- Vadodara
- Rajkot
- Ludhiana
- Coimbatore
- Kochi
- Visakhapatnam
- Patna
- Ranchi
- Ujjain
- Dehradun
- Guwahati
- Bhubaneswar
- Mysuru
- Nashik
- Aurangabad
- Amritsar
- Jodhpur
- Udaipur
- Agra
- Varanasi
- Meerut
- Faridabad
- Ghaziabad
- Thane
- Navi Mumbai
- Madurai
- Trichy
- Vijayawada
- Hubballi
- Mangaluru
- Jammu
- Kota
- Ajmer
- Bilaspur
- Sagar
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Prayagraj
- Jalandhar
- Gandhinagar
- Jamshedpur
- Tiruppur
- Dewas
- Satna
- Kozhikode
General information, not legal advice, as of October 2026.
Compliance in India: FAQs
Which messaging channels need registration in India?
It depends on the channel. Sender IDs for SMS often need registration with operators or the regulator, WhatsApp requires a verified business account and approved templates, and RCS needs brand verification. Each channel guide explains the details.
Does data protection law apply to messaging in India?
Websites and campaigns that collect personal data from Indian users should follow the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: clear notice, a lawful purpose, consent where required and reasonable security safeguards.
Is this legal advice?
No. These guides are general information. For significant campaigns, take advice from a local lawyer.
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