Our Bureau
New Delhi
Mobile phone users across India will be able to see the names of callers alongside their phone numbers from November 1, 2026, under a new directive issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service will initially be implemented across 4G and higher-generation mobile networks, helping users identify calls from numbers not saved in their contacts.
The directive requires telecom service providers, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and state-owned BSNL, to introduce the service across their respective service areas. The feature will be activated without requiring users to register separately.
Under the new system, if a caller’s number is already saved in the recipient’s contact list, the name stored on the phone will be displayed. For unsaved domestic numbers, the caller’s name will be sourced from subscriber records maintained by the originating telecom operator.
International calls will be identified separately, with the display showing “International Call” instead of an individual caller’s name. The rules also provide for privacy safeguards, including provisions for subscribers who have opted for Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR), under which their names will not be displayed.
The DoT’s circular directs operators to introduce CNAP across all service areas from November 1. The rollout on older 2G and 3G networks, as well as landline connections, will be considered separately.
The service follows recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on introducing CNAP in Indian telecommunications networks. The implementation marks a move towards integrating caller identification into telecom networks, reducing reliance on third-party applications for identifying unknown callers.