Caller Name Display Becomes Mandatory on 4G and 5G From November 1 as DoT Orders CNAP Rollout

Unknown numbers on Indian phones are about to come with a name attached. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom operators to roll out Calling Name Presentation, or CNAP, across 4G and 5G networks from November 1, 2026. The feature will be switched on by default, so users will not need to opt in or install anything.

Once live, an incoming call from a number that is not saved in a user's contacts will show the name registered against that number with the caller's telecom operator, alongside the number itself. Saved contacts will continue to display whatever name the user has stored.

How it will work

Each operator, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, must build and maintain a database that maps mobile numbers to the names in its subscriber records. When a call comes in, the recipient's network queries the caller's operator for the name and passes it to the handset.

A few rules shape what users will actually see:

• International calls will not show a name. They will be labelled simply as an international call.
• Privacy opt-out: subscribers who have Calling Line Identification Restriction enabled, the facility that hides a caller's identity, will not have their name shown through CNAP either.
• No storage after the call: operators must ensure the name retrieved for a call is not retained once the call ends.
• Older networks wait: rollout on 2G and 3G networks and on traditional landlines will be examined separately.

What changes for businesses

Companies that use bulk connections, such as banks, delivery firms and customer service centres, will be allowed to display a brand or business name instead of the name in the operator's records. That name must be either a trademark registered with the Trade Marks Registry or a trade name registered on the GST portal, and operators must verify the supporting documents before approving it. Businesses already using such connections will have to apply to update the name they want displayed.

Why it matters

For most users, the change replaces what third-party caller ID apps have done for years, but with names drawn from operators' own KYC-linked records rather than crowd-sourced lists. That could make spam and fraud calls easier to spot, especially for users who do not use such apps.

It is not a guarantee of safety, though. The name shown will be the registered subscriber on that connection, which is not necessarily the person actually making the call. Fraudsters using SIMs registered in someone else's name would still show up under that other name. Users will still need to be cautious with calls asking for OTPs, bank details or urgent payments.

With just over two weeks to the deadline, the practical test will be whether operators can get their databases and network systems ready in time, and how accurately subscriber names, many of them recorded years ago, appear on screen.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.