Highlights
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all licensed telecom operators in India to implement Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) from November 1, 2026.
- CNAP will work automatically at the network level by default without manual activation or downloads.
- The initial rollout of CNAP will be applied to 4G and 5G network users.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it mandatory for all telecom operators to introduce the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service from November 1, 2026. With this telecommunication network feature, call recipients can see the name of the caller on their phone screen. CNAP is mandatory for all operators holding a licence or authorisation to provide access services across all service areas. The feature will also display an international call with the words “International Call”.
DoT’s New Caller Name Display Rule: What Changes From November 1?
From November 1, all licensed telecom operators in India must introduce the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service to make it easier to identify incoming calls. With CNAP, the caller’s registered name along with their phone number will be automatically displayed on the recipient’s mobile screen for incoming calls.
How the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Service Works
The Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Service uses a real-time database of customers handled by telecom operators. This means that when a call is initiated, the telecom operator queries its customer database instantly and displays the caller name on the recipient’s phone in real-time.
The most important catch is that when the call ends, the fetched caller name is automatically deleted by the network and is not stored.
Which Telecom Operators and Phones Are Covered?
DoT has directed all telecom operators who hold authorisations or licenses to offer access services in India. The initial rollout on November 1, 2026, covers subscribers on 4G, 5G, and higher-generation networks, with major service providers including Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi).
How Will CNAP Display Names for Unknown Numbers?
While the CNAP service applies to registered mobile users, the question arises what happens when a number is not saved in your contacts or there is an unknown number.
But don’t worry! CNAP retrieves the numbers not saved in your phone’s contact list and displays the official name recorded in the caller’s operator database based on Customer Application Form or KYC documents.
What Happens When a Number Is Saved in Your Contacts?
If you have already saved the caller’s phone number in your contact list, your phone will prioritise the network data and display the locally saved contact name on the screen.
What Name Will Appear for Unsaved Domestic Calls?
In case you are getting domestic calls from unsaved numbers, your phone’s screen will display the official caller name recorded in the telecom operator’s subscriber registration, or KYC, database.
With CNAP, organisations using business or corporate connections can display a verified preferred name under a registered trademark or GST portal record rather than an individual subscriber name.
How International Calls Will Be Displayed
If you are getting international calls, the CNAP feature will simply display the “International Call” tag alongside the incoming number, instead of displaying the individual’s name.
Will You Need to Activate Caller Name Display on Your Phone?
There is no need for manual activation to display names on your phone. CNAP is implemented by default at the network level by telecom operators and is enabled automatically without requiring users to register or download third-party applications.
With Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facilities, users can be exempted from having their names displayed on the recipient’s screen.
Will the New DoT Rule Work on 2G and 3G Phones?
The initial roll out of CNAP will be implemented only on 4G and 5G networks. The DoT will reportedly evaluate extending CNAP to 2G, 3G, and traditional landline networks at a later stage.
Will CNAP Replace Truecaller or Block Spam Calls?
The Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) is designed primarily for official identity verification based on carrier KYC data, rather than replacing third-party apps like Truecaller. Although CNAP will display verified names, it does not automatically block spam calls or display spam scores like Truecaller.
 in India from November 1, displaying caller names alongside phone numbers on 4G and 5G networks.){kind=link}