# What is DND / NCPR in India?

> DND (Do Not Disturb) is the preference an Indian phone user sets to stop unwanted promotional calls and SMS. The preferences are held in TRAI's National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), and businesses sending commercial communication must not send promotional calls or messages to numbers that have opted out, unless the person has given consent.

Source: https://agents.elevatebox.in/glossary/dnd-ncpr  
Updated: 2026-10-12

## How a customer turns on DND

Any mobile user can register a preference with their telecom operator by calling or sending an SMS to 1909, through the operator's app or website, or through TRAI's DND app. The preference is recorded with the operator and shared through the register, so it applies to every business that sends commercial communication to that number.

## Full block and category-wise block

A customer can block all promotional communication, or block only some categories and keep others open. The categories cover areas such as banking and financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods, tourism and entertainment. Someone who blocks real estate but leaves education open can still receive promotional calls about courses.

## What DND does not block

- Transactional messages, such as an OTP or a bank alert
- Service communication to an existing customer about something they bought or booked
- Communication the customer explicitly consented to, recorded in a verifiable way

Calling back someone who just filled your enquiry form is different from cold-calling a bought list. The enquiry is a request to be contacted, but keep a record of it and call about what they asked for. The NCPR works together with [DLT registration](https://agents.elevatebox.in/glossary/dlt-registration), which is how a business's sender identity and consent records are checked before delivery.

> The full set of rules for AI calling, including timing, consent and registration, is in [AI calling rules in India (TRAI and DLT)](https://agents.elevatebox.in/guides/ai-calling-rules-india-trai-dlt).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between NDNC and NCPR?

NDNC (National Do Not Call) registry was the older name. TRAI replaced it with the National Customer Preference Register, which added category-wise choices instead of a single on or off.

### Can I call a DND number that filled my enquiry form?

A customer who asked you to contact them has given a form of consent for that enquiry. Keep a record of the enquiry and call only about what they asked for. When in doubt, check with your provider.

### How do I check if a number is on DND?

Registered setups check the preference before a promotional call or message goes out. A customer can check their own status with their operator or by sending an SMS to 1909.