The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced on October 13, 2026, that telecom operators would be required to display registered caller names alongside telephone numbers during incoming calls.
In order to assist in identifying unknown callers and combating phone-based spam and fraud, the directive introduced mandatory Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), as introduced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on October 13. Under these new rules, incoming calls will display the caller's name and telephone number, making identification easier.
A particular application of this initiative is the impersonation phone scam, which involves fraudsters posing as bank officials, government representatives, delivery companies, or legitimate businesses. In the beginning, the CNAP system will cover wireless networks operating on 4G and newer technologies. Implementation of 2G and 3G networks, as well as traditional landline services, will be taken into account separately.
How the Caller Name Display System Works
If the recipient does not save the name of an inbound caller in his or her phone contacts, the caller's name will be retrieved from the originating telecom operator's subscriber database. Calls originating outside of India will be tagged as an international call as per the prescribed guidelines. Telephone operators must maintain databases linking subscriber names to their telephone numbers in order to support the service.
While receiving an inbound call, the receiving operator will consult the originating operator's database to obtain the caller's registered identity and display it during the incoming call. In addition, operators are required to provide Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR), allowing subscribers to hide their caller identification when making calls.
Although displaying a registered name could assist people in identifying suspicious calls, it does not imply that a caller is trustworthy.
The perpetrators of fraud may still utilize social engineering and impersonation tactics in order to obtain sensitive information or persuade victims to make financial transactions. It will therefore remain vital to verify any unexpected requests from victims.
Privacy Safeguards and Business Caller Identification
As a consequence of the DoT directive, telecom operators implementing CNAP are also required to adhere to security and privacy requirements. Providers must follow a security-by-design approach and ensure the caller name information is not retained after the end of an incoming call.
As well as maintaining an efficient network, database, and connectivity infrastructure, identity queries must also be processed.
According to the guidelines, telecom operators must establish grievance-redress mechanisms for complaints concerning their service, including instances where the recipient's screen does not display the correct name of the caller.
To report such issues, consumers may contact their service providers. Businesses and users with bulk connections will also have the option of displaying a verified preferred name instead of the name used in their standard subscriber records.
There must be a trademark corresponding to the name registered with the Trade Marks Registry or a trade name registered with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal. Telecom operators must verify the supporting documents before updating subscriber records.
As part of the provision of existing connections, providers must establish an application process that allows eligible users to register their preferred names for registration.
Incoming calls cannot contain unauthorised or misleading business identities due to this verification process. In addition, CNAP provides an exception for subscribers who have activated Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) The caller identity will not be displayed by CNAP if this facility is activated.
Earlier Trials and Network Limitations
Starting in November 2025, telecom operators began testing the service nationwide. In Haryana, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) tested the service, while Airtel tested it in Himachal Pradesh. Although the nationwide rollout was initially anticipated to commence in March 2026, it was not completed by that date across all operators.
A late March announcement by BSNL indicated that the integration of private networks would take additional time to complete. Initially, the November mandate covers 4G and the latest wireless networks. Older 2G and 3G systems and fixed-line telephone service are not covered by the current rollout. Their inclusion will be reviewed separately.
The CNAP system provides a secondary layer of caller identification, but its effectiveness will be determined by ensuring accurate subscriber records, ensuring secure implementation, and maintaining reliable network operations. Even though the service may be helpful in assessing unfamiliar calls, it cannot be used independently to avoid spam, impersonation, or financial fraud. Telecom-level identification will therefore continue to play an important role in efforts to reduce phone-based fraud.
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