Department of Telecommunications

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is the department of the Government of India that formulates policy for the growth of telecom services. It sits under the Ministry of Communications and is headquartered in New Delhi. It was set up in 1985, according to Wikipedia.

The department grants licences for services such as unified access, internet and VSAT. It also manages radio frequencies in coordination with international bodies and monitors wireless transmissions across the country. Its units include the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing and the Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring cells. In 2023 it launched the Sanchar Saathi portal.

DoT is in the news after Reuters reported on 11 November 2026 that it directed internet service providers to block 129 betting websites on the basis of two forged court orders, one in the name of the Rajasthan High Court and one in the name of the Allahabad High Court. The department did not respond to Reuters queries.

Sources: Wikipedia, Department of Telecommunications