Caller Name Display to Become Mandatory in India from November 1, 2026

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom service providers to introduce Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) from November 1, 2026. The system is designed to display the caller’s phone number and registered name, helping users identify incoming calls without relying solely on third-party caller ID applications.

How Will the CNAP Caller ID System Work?

Under the DoT order, CNAP will be enabled by default for users on 4G and newer mobile networks, including 5G.

When a call comes in, the recipient’s phone will display the caller’s number and name. If the number is already saved in the recipient’s contacts, the contact name will appear. For an unsaved domestic number, the caller’s name recorded in the originating telecom operator’s subscriber database will be displayed.

For international calls, the screen will show the label “International Call.”

Each telecom service provider must establish and maintain a database linking subscribers’ registered names with their phone numbers. The operator receiving a call will retrieve the relevant name from this database and display it to the recipient.

Privacy and Security Measures

The DoT order also outlines measures to protect users’ privacy. Telecom operators must follow a security-by-design approach, ensuring that a caller’s name is not retained through the query-response mechanism after the call ends.

The names of subscribers who have activated the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility will not be displayed through CNAP.

Special Rules for Business and Bulk Connections

For business and bulk connections, telecom operators may allow subscribers to display a preferred name instead of the name recorded in their subscriber details.

The preferred name must meet specific verification requirements. It must be either a trademark registered in the subscriber’s name with the Trade Marks Registry or a trade name registered on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal.

Telecom operators will be responsible for verifying the requested name and its supporting documents. Existing subscribers who want to use a preferred name will need to apply for the change.

What About 2G and 3G Networks?

The initial rollout will cover 4G and newer mobile networks. The implementation of CNAP on 2G and 3G networks, as well as public switched telephone networks, will be considered separately, according to the order.

Background: TRAI Recommendations and CNAP Trials

The decision follows trials conducted on 4G and 5G networks in recent months. It also draws on recommendations issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in February 2024.

In October 2025, TRAI supported the DoT’s proposal to make CNAP available by default. Its original recommendation, however, had proposed activating the service only when users requested it.

The new system aims to improve caller identification by displaying names sourced from telecom subscriber records. However, users should continue to exercise caution when receiving calls requesting OTPs, banking details or money transfers, as caller identification alone cannot guararantee that a call is genuine.