An SMS sender ID, also known as an SMS header, helps identify the business or organization associated with a message. In India, you can look up registered SMS headers using the official Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Header Information Portal.

Whether you have received an OTP, transaction alert, appointment reminder, or other business SMS, checking the sender ID can help you find the principal entity and the information listed for that header.

A typical Indian SMS sender ID includes a telecom access provider prefix, a service area code, a registered header, and, where applicable, a message category suffix. For example, a sender ID may appear in a format such as AD-TRAIND-G.

Where Can You Check an SMS Sender ID?

You can use the official TRAI Header Information Portal to search for registered SMS headers and view the associated principal entity details.

Official portal: TRAI Header Information Portal

The portal provides header lookup functionality and information supplied by telecom service providers. Access to certain features may require login and OTP verification.

Follow these steps to check an SMS header using the TRAI portal.

Step 1: Open the Official TRAI Portal

Visit the TRAI Header Information Portal and navigate to the header information section.

Step 2: Sign In if Required

Enter the requested details, complete the CAPTCHA, and verify your access using the OTP sent to your registered email address.

Step 3: Open the Header Lookup Section

Navigate to the Header & Principal Entities (PEs) details section to search for an SMS header.

Step 4: Enter the Header Details

Depending on the sender ID format, enter the required prefix, header name, and suffix in their respective fields.

For example, the portal illustrates a sender ID such as AD-TRAIND-G using these components:

• Prefix: AD

• Header name: TRAIND

• Suffix: G

Use the actual components of the sender ID you want to look up. Not every displayed sender ID necessarily uses the same format.

Step 5: Review the Search Results

If a matching record is available, review the principal entity name, address, and stated communication purpose shown in the results.

Keep in mind that the information is supplied by telecom service providers. TRAI states that it is provided on an “as is” basis and does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

This example illustrates how a registered SMS header can be associated with a principal entity in the lookup results.

Textplate's header, CP-TTTOTP-S, appears in the TRAI Header Information Portal with the following listed details:

Depending on the available record, an SMS header lookup may help you identify:

• Registered header: The SMS sender ID listed in the portal.

• Principal entity: The business or organization associated with the header.

• Entity address: The address recorded in the lookup result.

• Communication purpose: The purpose or category displayed for the header.

If no result appears, it does not necessarily mean the sender ID is fraudulent. The record may be unavailable, the search fields may be incorrect, or the portal's information may not be complete or up to date.

No. Finding a matching sender ID can help you identify the entity associated with a registered header, but it does not independently establish that a particular SMS is genuine.

Be cautious with unexpected messages containing payment requests, suspicious links, requests for passwords, or requests for sensitive information. Verify important requests through the organization's official website or customer support channel.

1. Is there an official website to check SMS sender IDs in India?

Yes. You can use the TRAI Header Information Portal to look up available SMS header and principal entity information.

2. Can I find the business name from an SMS header?

If the header has a matching record in the portal, the result may display the principal entity name and associated details.

3. Why can't I find an SMS sender ID?

Possible reasons include incorrect search fields, an unavailable record, or incomplete or outdated information. Check the sender ID format and try again.

4. Is an SMS sender ID lookup enough to verify an OTP message?

No. A lookup can provide information about the registered header, but you should also consider the message content and context before trusting it.

• Understand Indian SMS Sender ID Formats

• Learn About DLT-Compliant SMS

• Explore Transactional SMS

• Integrate SMS Through a REST API

Send OTPs, alerts, notifications, and other transactional SMS using Textplate's built-in, ready-to-use TRAI-compliant DLT templates. With a simple web dashboard and REST API, you can integrate SMS into your business workflows without managing your own DLT registration or template submissions for supported messaging use cases. Get started with 7 days of free access and 20 SMS credits.