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Friday, February 14, 2025

Big relief from SPAM calls, TRAI bans 10-digit numbers for telemarketing!

These amendments, announced on February 12, 2025, aim to combat unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) while ensuring legitimate marketing activities operate within a transparent framework.

Written by FE Online

February 13, 2025 11:20 IST

The revised regulations come in response to evolving telemarketing practices that exploit telecom channels.

In a bid to curb the misuse of telecom resources and enhance consumer protection, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced stricter regulations under the amended Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018. These amendments, announced on February 12, 2025, aim to combat unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) while ensuring legitimate marketing activities operate within a transparent framework.

The revised regulations come in response to evolving telemarketing practices that exploit telecom channels. The move follows a consultation process initiated on August 28, 2024, where TRAI sought industry feedback on key regulatory gaps. The amendments focus on tightening norms against unregistered telemarketers (UTMs), preventing the misuse of 10-digit numbers for marketing, enhancing consumer complaint mechanisms, and increasing accountability for senders and service providers.

No more 10-digit numbers for telemarketing

In a bid to improve transparency, TRAI has restricted commercial communication via standard 10-digit mobile numbers. Instead, a designated number series must be used: the ‘140’ series will continue for promotional calls, while the newly allocated ‘1600’ series will be used for transactional and service calls.

Easier reporting, faster action

Consumers can now lodge complaints against spam messages and calls from unregistered senders without pre-registering their communication preferences. TRAI has also simplified the complaint process—any report containing essential details will be treated as valid.

The window for reporting spam has been extended from three days to seven days, and telecom operators must now take action against UCC complaints within five days, down from the earlier 30-day limit. Additionally, the threshold for penalising senders has been lowered—from requiring 10 complaints in seven days to just five complaints within 10 days.

To ensure greater transparency, telecom providers must prominently display complaint registration options on their mobile apps and websites, making it easier for users to report violations.

Stronger penalties for repeat offenders

TRAI has introduced stringent penalties for habitual offenders. First-time violators will face a 15-day suspension of outgoing telecom services. Repeat offenders will see all their telecom resources—including PRI/SIP trunks—disconnected across all service providers for a year, with blacklisting. To further deter violations, TRAI has introduced financial disincentives for telecom operators failing to enforce the new regulations. Fines start at Rs 2 lakh for the first violation, Rs 5 lakh for the second, and Rs 10 lakh per subsequent offence.

Additionally, access providers are now mandated to enter legally binding agreements with registered senders and telemarketers, outlining their responsibilities and the penalties for non-compliance.

Empowering consumers with more control

Telecom operators must now provide a mandatory ‘opt-out’ option within promotional messages, making it easier for consumers to block unwanted marketing content. TRAI has also standardised message headers to help users differentiate between promotional (‘-P’), service (‘-S’), transactional (‘-T’), and government (‘-G’) communications. A separate category for government communications has been introduced to ensure essential messages are not missed. Additionally, brands must now wait 90 days before seeking fresh consent from users who have opted out of marketing communications.

Ready to return to AIADMK: OPS

TNN | Feb 14, 2025, 04.00 AM IST

Madurai: Former chief minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam has said that he, along with TTV Dhinakaran and V K Sasikala, is ready to return to AIADMK without any conditions. He said AIADMK can survive the 2026 assembly elections only when the party is united. He was addressing reporters at his farmhouse near Periakulam in Theni district on Thursday.

OPS said that according to AIADMK bylaws, the party’s general secretary can be selected only through elections, and this bylaw cannot be deleted or altered. However, Edappadi K Palaniswami altered it, forcing them to approach the court. The election commission has the same rights as the court, said OPS.

AIADMK can survive the assembly elections only when it is united, and it is better that it joins NDA, he said. OPS recalled that Jayalalithaa executed the Athikadavu–Avinasi irrigation project from state funds since the Union govt was delaying the funds. He criticised EPS for taking credit for the project.

Sengottaiyan and he worked together and conducted many party meetings. Sengottaiyan has to answer the questions levelled against him, said OPS.

Earlier, AMMK leader Dhinakaran, who attended the party meeting in Chinnamanur in Theni, termed the court ruling on ECI’s inquiry into AIADMK leadership issue their first victory.

Chennai Metro Rail services on Poonamallee-Porur stretch to be operational by year-end: CM

Infrastructure push: Once the ongoing works are completed, Chennai will set new standards in connectivity, urban mobility and public transportation, says the Chief Minister.B. Jothi Ramalingam

Inspecting the ongoing CMRL works on Thursday, Mr. Stalin instructed officials to speed up the work on the remaining sections. He further urged the Union government to swiftly approve Metro Rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai

The Hindu Bureau 14.02.2025

CHENNAI

The Metro Rail services on the Poonamallee-Porur stretch would be operational by the end of 2025, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Thursday.

In a social media post, Mr. Stalin said he had instructed officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to accelerate the work on the remaining sections.

Once the ongoing works were completed, Chennai would set new standards in connectivity, urban mobility and public transportation, he said.

After “delays in the previous administration”, Mr. Stalin said his government took the lead in implementing Phase II, making Tamil Nadu the first State to “continue metro expansion through its own funding.”

With the recently approved Union contribution, we are expediting the works further, the Chief Minister said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Stalin, accompanied by officials, inspected the ongoing CMRL works.

“I was elated to witness our vision taking shape and expanding. At this moment, I once again urge the Union government to swiftly approve Metro Rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai,” he said.

Mr. Stalin further said the Chennai Metro Rail project, initiated during the tenure of the late DMK leader and former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, was advancing rapidly under his government.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

State nursing councils cannot deny registration over out-of-state degrees: Karnataka HC

The court said that what is even more interesting is that the petitioners are residents of Kerala.

Express News Service

Updated on: 12 Feb 2025, 8:59 am

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has ruled that a state or State Nursing Council (SNC) cannot deny registration to a graduate in BSC Nursing to practice in the state on the ground that the student did not graduate from a college within the state. Also, SNC cannot insist that such students should furnish a certificate of registration or recognition from the Indian Nursing Council (INC) for enrolment or registration to practice in that state.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order, allowing a petition filed by two nursing graduates, Daniya Joy and Neethu Baby, from Kasaragod in Kerala along with three others, questioning the endorsement issued by the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council insisting that they submit their INC registration from Karnataka where they completed their BSc, to practice in Kerala.

Both the petitioners studied at a college in Karnataka and intend to practice in Kerala. They submitted their application to KNMC to register themselves, but they were asked to submit the INC registration from where they completed their BSc. They then moved the high court.

The court said that what is even more interesting is that the petitioners are residents of Kerala.

They came to a college in Karnataka for education, obtained their degrees in Karnataka and when they wanted to go back to work in the state in which they were born, the authorities refused to register them as nurses on the ground that the college from which they obtained their degrees is not registered with INC.

This, in considered opinion, is a disservice by KNMC for persons born within its own state, to say the least, the court said.

Once A Citizen Has Been Conferred A Degree, It Would Be Valid All Over India & Has To Be Recognised By All Institutions: Karnataka HC

Mustafa Plumber

11 Feb 2025 4:51 PM

The Karnataka High Court has declared that the Kerala State or State Nursing Council cannot seek to deny registration of a Karnataka graduate in BSc Nursing, on the ground that the said student has not graduated from a college within the state.

A single judge, Justice Suraj Govindaraj held thus while allowing a petition filed by two natives of Kerala who completed their nursing course in Karnataka but were denied registration by the State Council in Kerala for want of a certificate from the Indian Nursing Council.

The bench said, “Once a citizen of India is qualified and has been conferred a degree, that degree would be valid across the country, which has to be recognized by every institution.”

Following this it directed the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council to register the petitioners---Daniya Joy and Neethu Baby and any other graduate holding a degree in Nursing, so as to enable them to practice the profession of nursing in the state of Kerala.

The court also declared that Kerala State Council cannot insist on the grant of any recognition from the 'Indian Nursing Council', suitability or otherwise, in respect of the college nor is there any requirement for a graduate of nursing to have registered under any other state council, before seeking for registration in the state of Kerala.

Petitioners had made an application to the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council, for registering themselves. In response the council, called upon them to submit their INC (Indian Nursing Council) registration/affiliation of the Nursing Institution from where they had completed their education in B.Sc. Nursing.

The Kerala Council defended its action contending that the petitioners are residing in Kerala. The relief is being sought for against the Kerala Nursing Council, and therefore this Court would not have jurisdiction.

Referring to Section 21 of the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Act, 1953, it was submitted that registration is mandatory to practice/engage in the profession of nursing in the State of Kerala. Without such registration, no such permission can be granted, nor would any person be entitled to practice the profession of nursing in the State of Kerala.

Referring to Section 13 of the Indian Nursing Council Act 1947, it was said that it provides for issuing a suitability certificate. It was claimed that this was the reason why it sought for the production of such a certificate.

Findings:

Firstly the bench rejected the ground raised about maintainability of the petition by saying “Petitioners having studied in the state of Karnataka and the degree being that issued by a university situated within the state of Karnataka, this court would have jurisdiction.”

Then referring to Sections 13 and 14 of the Indian Nursing Council Act, the court held “There is no mandate under the Indian Nursing Council for a college involved in the field of education in nursing to seek and obtain registration from INC for the purpose of carrying out its activities. There being no requirement for registration with the INC, nor any procedure being provided for under the Indian Nursing Council Act for registration, the question of the second respondent insisting upon Petitioner No.1 and 2 to produce such registration certificate from the INC in respect of Petitioner No.3 does not arise.”

Further, it clarified that the aspect of suitability certificate would arise only if any complaints are filed requiring inspection by the Central Council, and the suitability report would be forwarded to the State Council for action on deficiencies, if any. The inspection for suitability also does not confer any recognition or registration to any college.

The court opined, “India is one single country with one single citizenship. Though a person may be domiciled anywhere, the citizenship remains one and the same. There is no restriction of the movement of any citizen of India from one State to another..No law can bind a person to a particular State, or mandate that a person can only work in the State where he or she has obtained his or her education. Narrow parochial views like these must be avoided and it is required to be held that a citizen of the country having a fundamental right to practice any trade or profession, such a person would be permitted to practice their trade or profession anywhere in the country.”

Noting that petitioners are residents of Kerala. They came to a college in the State of Karnataka for education, obtained their degrees in Karnataka and when they wanted to go back to work in the State in which they were born, the authorities in the State refused to register them as nurses.

The court said, “This, in my considered opinion, is a dis-service done by the 2nd respondent for persons born within its own State, to say the least.”

Stating that a State Nursing Council and the State Government, which recognises a college, issues a certificate through that University to which the said college is affiliated to, such a degree conferred on such a student is valid across the country.

The court said, “The degree being recognized across the whole of the country, a citizen of the country cannot be restricted in terms of practicing that trade or profession, when such a degree entitles that person to practice in the trade or profession in the entire country.”

It added “By contending that the degree is not conferred by the State, or by the State Council, or by the University within that particular State, a citizen of the country cannot be stopped from practicing such trade or profession in that State.”

Finally the court held “There would be no requirement for any separate arrangement between the Nursing Councils of one State and another State to arrive at reciprocity. The concept of reciprocity is unnecessary because of the recognition of the degree being nationwide, any Nursing Council across the country would have to consider and act upon a degree conferred in another State, on account of the education being completed in a college recognized by the Nursing Council of that State.”

Accordingly it allowed the petition.

Appearance: Advocate Nitin A.M, for the petitioners,

Advocate Shivarudra, for R1.

Advocate Siji Malayil, for respondent No.2.

Advocate Jyoti M. Maradi, for respondent No.3.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 55

Case Title: Daniya Joy & Others AND The Indian Nursing Council & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION NO. 28043 OF 2024

AC EMU trains soon; tickets to cost three times more than ordinary

Feb 13, 2025, 04.02 AM IST

Chennai: Southern Railway’s first fully air-conditioned Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train will soon be introduced on two key routes — Chennai Beach to Tirumalpur and MGR Chennai Central to Arakkonam. The ticket prices may be three times that of regular trains.

While the present 12-rake EMU can seat 1,168 people and 2,336 people can stand, the new AC EMU 12-car rake has only 1,116 seats but space for 3,798 to stand.

With the maximum speed of 110kmph, the train has advanced bogies with fully suspended traction motors, wheel-mounted disc brakes and air spring suspension, similar to Vande Bharat trains.

The rake designed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is stationed at the commissioning shed in Anna Nagar.

Deputy chief mechanical engineer Udhayakumar said ticket prices have not been finalised, but early estimates suggest fares could be three times higher than regular EMU trains. Southern Railway adopting Western Railway's fare model would mean commuters traveling 29km from Chennai Beach to Tambaram pay 95, with fares set at 35 for 9km, 70 for 24km, and 95 for 34km.

The stainless-steel coaches have wide entrances and automatic sliding doors. Passengers will have access to aluminium luggage racks, GPS-based LED display boards, an announcement system and CCTV cameras in all compartments.

Out-of-syllabus questions erode NTA credibility further

Feb 13, 2025, 03.37 AM IST

An examination of past answer keys contradicts NTA’s claims, revealing multiple instances of error-free papers in previous years. Before 2025, the highest number of dropped questions was six in Session 1 of 2024 and four in Session 2.

NTA claimed that six questions were dropped in Session 1 of 2023, 2024 and 2025, but the official answer key for 2025 lists 12 dropped questions. TOI’s analysis found five questions were dropped in Session 1 of 2023, while 2022’s Session 1 and 2 had four and six dropped questions, respectively. No questions were dropped in the Feb and March 2021 exams. Despite this, the agency defended itself, stating, “This year’s record-low challenge rate and minimal errors reaffirm NTA’s commitment to ensuring a fair, transparent, and error-free examination process for engineering aspirants nationwide.”

Experts highlight that inconsistencies in language translations further erode trust in the exam process. At least two translation errors were found in the final answer key, causing confusion. Incorrect answers were later marked correct, creating additional discrepancies. Students answering in Hindi and Gujarati had two answer choices, while others had only one, raising concerns about fairness. The inclusion of out-of-syllabus questions further damaged confidence in NTA’s reliability.

Educators and students have expressed frustration, stating, “In a prestigious exam like JEE, where students’ futures are at stake, such incompetence is unacceptable.” Errors led to confusion, such as a logic gate question from the 22nd Shift 2 paper being dropped after being deemed invalid. Physics questions also contained errors, while translation inconsistencies and marking mistakes persisted.

Despite assurances of a well-structured exam, students encountered multiple out-of-syllabus topics.

“For example, the Carnot Cycle, removed from the syllabus years ago, appeared unexpectedly in the paper. Likewise, Newton’s Law of Cooling, omitted for the past two years, suddenly had 22 related questions. This misalignment between the syllabus and the actual exam content further added to students’ distress,” an educator lamented, adding, “we expected a better paper this year — one without errors and irrelevant questions. Instead, we got a complete mess.”

Students lost valuable time on incorrectly framed questions, with some spending 10-15 minutes struggling with ambiguous problems, affecting performance and rankings. As one student put it, “It’s not just about dropping incorrect questions — it’s about the time students wasted on them. That’s a huge injustice.”

NTA has faced criticism for mismanaging various exams, including last year’s NEET-UG and UGC-NET, which were marred by controversies over paper leak allegations and irregularities. Given past failures, expectations were high for improvements in JEE-Main 2025. However, despite recommendations from the Radhakrishnan Committee categorising JEE-Main as a high-stakes exam, the agency appears to have repeated its mistakes. The committee stated, “ ...It is to be ensured that questions created will have uncontested answers... “

Amid these inconsistencies, JEE-Main faces serious credibility issues due to NTA’s continued mismanagement and lack of accountability.

This story had continued from a page 1 story in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.

JEE-Main sees record 12 errors; NTA credibility hit

Manash.Gohain

New Delhi: A record 12 JEE-Main questions were dropped from the final answer key due to errors, the highest in recent history, raising serious concerns about the National Testing Agency’s ability to conduct a fair and transparent exam of such a large scale.

Despite reducing the total number of questions from 90 to 75, the error rate surged to 1.6%, far exceeding historical 0.6% threshold. Adding to the concern is NTA’s lack of transparency, with inconsistencies in its claims about the number of dropped questions, raising suspicions of “under-reporting” NTA DG P S Kharola did not respond to TOI questions. Education ministry has forwarded a reply from NTA that ignored syllabus discrepancy concerns, deepening scepticism about its accountability.