Department of Telecommunications

Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
Parent Agency - Ministry of Communications
Department of Telecommunications
Department overview
Formed1985; 41 years ago (1985)
JurisdictionGovernment of India
Headquarters
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
Department executive
  • Amit Agrawal, IAS
Parent department
Ministry of Communications
Websitewww.dot.gov.in

The Department of Telecommunications, abbreviated to DoT, is a department of the Ministry of Communications of the executive branch of the Government of India.

History

Telecom services have been recognized the world-over as an important tool for socio-economic development for a nation and hence telecom infrastructure is treated as a crucial factor to realize the socio-economic objectives in India. Accordingly, the Department of Telecom has been formulating developmental policies for the accelerated growth of the telecommunication services. The department is also responsible for grant of licenses for various telecom services like Unified Access Service Internet and VSAT service. The department is also responsible for frequency management in the field of radio communication in close coordination with the international bodies. It also enforces wireless regulatory measures by monitoring wireless transmission of all users in the country.

The Digital Communications Commission, an apex inter-departmental decision-making body within the department formed in 1989 as the Telecom Commission and renamed in 2018, was dissolved with effect from 19 September 2026. Its approval functions were transferred to the telecom secretary, the minister or an Expenditure Finance Committee depending on the value involved. The Commission, which included senior officials from NITI Aayog, the finance ministry and other departments, had decided on telecom policy matters including spectrum pricing and recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and held its last meeting on 3 September 2026 to finalise a decision on satellite communication spectrum.

Services

Statutory Bodies

Attached Offices

Subordinate Offices

Field Offices

Autonomous Bodies

Training Institutes

Specialised Units

The following units function under the DoT:

Central Public Sector Undertakings

See also

Central Civil Services

Central Engineering Services

References

  1. ↑ "PM Modi announces list of Cabinet ministers with portfolios - Times of India". The Times of India. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Government dissolves 37-year-old Digital Communications Commission". The Hindu. 21 September 2026. Retrieved 22 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Sanchar Saathi: Now subscribers can track, block lost cellphone via portal". The Economic Times. 2023-05-17. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  4. ↑ "India's first integrated defence communication network launched". Business Standard. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Towards an Integrated Military Future". raksha-anirveda.com. 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  6. ↑ "Units Under DOT | Department of Telecommunications, Government of India". www.dot.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23.
  7. ↑ "Telephone Advisory Committees (TACs) | PHP Section | Circulars/Notifications | Department of Telecommunications". Archived from the original on 2014-08-06. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Telephone Advisory Committees (TACs)". dot.gov.in. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Raghuram Rajan went ahead with TAC view on interest rate". moneycontrol.com. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "BSNL holds second TAC meeting". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "BSNL to provide 3G connectivity to Lasalgaon, Satana". Times of India. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Circular" (PDF). dot.gov.in.
  13. ↑ Varma, M. Dinesh (17 May 2011). "Core function of TAC remains unchanged". thehindu.com. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Telephone Advisory Committee meeting of BSNL organised". dailypost.in. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Telephone Advisory Committee meeting presided over by Dr Ashok Tanwar Member of Parliament". firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "DoT mandates BSNL Employees to Download Aarogya Setu App for Safety". bsnltariff.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  17. ↑ "DoT says, The Indian Contract Act of 1872, No SIM card to Minors". www.telecomtariff.in.