New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- Blocking an unknown number or reporting a suspicious text message may feel like a small win against the spam menace. But behind every promotional call or unwanted message is a tangled ecosystem-a web of companies, some complex rules and a growing debate on who should be held accountable.

As the menace persists, the department of telecommunications (DoT) is looking to strengthen regulations by introducing a formal licensing system for telemarketers, the intermediaries who send commercial messages on behalf of brands.

However, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is proceeding cautiously, considering whether placing these service providers under an official authorization system would genuinely help to co...