The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom operators to display callers’ names along with their phone numbers on recipients’ screens from November 1, 2026. The move aims to help people identify incoming callers and make it easier to recognise unknown numbers.
The directive, issued on October 13 under the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service, applies to all telecom operators authorised to provide access services across India.
Under the new system, incoming domestic calls will display the caller’s phone number and name. If the recipient has saved the number in their contacts, the saved name will appear. If the number is not saved, the name registered with the caller’s telecom operator will be displayed.
For incoming international calls, the screen will show the words “International Call”.
Which Networks Will Support the Service?
According to the DoT directive, telecom operators, including Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, have conducted trials to introduce the caller name display service on wireless networks.
Initially, the service will cover 4G and higher-generation wireless networks. The government may consider extending it to 2G, 3G and landline connections at a later stage.
How Will the Caller Name Service Work?
Each telecom operator will maintain an updated database linking subscribers’ names with their phone numbers. When someone makes a call, the recipient’s network will contact the caller’s operator database in real time to retrieve the registered name.
The DoT has also instructed operators to follow a “security-by-design” approach. Under this requirement, retrieved names must be deleted immediately after the call ends and must not be stored. Operators must also ensure that their networks can process these requests quickly without affecting call quality.
Special Rules for Corporate and Bulk Connections
Businesses and organisations using corporate or bulk mobile connections may be allowed to display a preferred name instead of the name recorded in the telecom operator’s database.
However, the preferred name must match a trademark registered in the subscriber’s name or a trade name verified through the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal.
Who Will Not See Their Names Displayed?
Subscribers who have activated Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) to hide their caller identity will not have their names displayed under the service.
Telecom operators must also establish a system to receive and resolve complaints related to CNAP within a specified time.
The latest directive follows recommendations issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on February 23, 2024.