India will make Calling Name Presentation mandatory for mobile users from November 1, 2026, requiring telecom operators to display the caller’s name along with the phone number on 4G and newer networks such as 5G.
The Department of Telecommunications has asked telecom service providers to enable the Calling Name Presentation, or CNAP, system by default. The system is intended to help users identify callers using subscriber information held by telecom operators rather than relying only on names saved in a phone’s contact list.
Under the new arrangement, if an incoming number is already saved on the recipient’s phone, the saved contact name will continue to appear. If the number is not saved, the name associated with the caller in the telecom operator’s records will be displayed.
FCRF Launches CP-FRM to Build India’s Next Generation of Fraud Risk Professionals
Caller Names to Appear by Default on 4G and 5G
Telecom service providers will be required to create and maintain databases linking subscribers’ names with their telephone numbers. When a call is received, the receiving operator will obtain the relevant information and display the caller’s name alongside the number.
International calls will be identified on the screen as “International Call”.
The November 1 rollout will apply to 4G networks and newer technologies such as 5G. The implementation of CNAP on 2G and 3G networks, as well as landline connections, will be considered separately.
The move follows trials conducted on 4G and 5G networks in recent months and builds on recommendations made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in February 2024.
TRAI agreed in October 2025 to the Department of Telecommunications’ proposal to make CNAP available by default. This differed from the regulator’s earlier proposal that the service should be activated only at a subscriber’s request.
Privacy Safeguards Included in CNAP Framework
The Department of Telecommunications has directed operators to adopt a security-by-design approach while implementing the system.
Caller names obtained through the query-response mechanism cannot be retained after the incoming call ends. This is intended to limit the storage and reuse of subscriber information generated through the CNAP process.
Subscribers who have activated Calling Line Identification Restriction, or CLIR, will be exempt from the system. Their names will not be displayed through CNAP.
The new framework seeks to make caller identification more widely available by using verified subscriber records maintained by telecom operators.
Businesses May Use Verified Trade Names
Businesses and bulk connection users may be permitted to display a name different from the one recorded in the telecom operator’s subscriber database.
However, the preferred name must be supported by a registered trademark or a trade name registered on the Goods and Services Tax portal. Telecom operators will be responsible for checking the requested display name and the supporting documents.
Subscribers seeking to change the business name shown through CNAP will have to submit a request to their telecom operator.
The government expects the system to improve caller identification and help users distinguish legitimate calls from potentially fraudulent ones. The mandatory rollout from November 1 will mark a wider shift towards the use of verified telecom subscriber data for incoming caller identification.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
