New Delhi,Oct 23 [UDN}: Mobile phone users across India will soon be able to see both the caller’s name and phone number on their screens whenever they receive an incoming call. The name displayed will be the one registered on the identity document used to purchase the SIM card. The new system is expected to help users identify suspicious calls and curb fake calls, cyber fraud, scam calls and blackmailing. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom operators to introduce the service from November 1, 2026. Users will not need to activate the facility separately, as it will be enabled by default.
The government has instructed telecom companies to make Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) mandatory across all 4G and 5G mobile networks from November 1, 2026. Under this system, when a call arrives from an unknown number, the caller’s registered name and mobile number will appear on the recipient’s screen. The facility will initially be implemented on 4G and 5G networks, while its introduction on 2G and 3G networks will be taken up at a later stage. International calls will be identified on the screen with the label “International Call.”
### Telecom Operators to Create a Database Linking Names with Mobile Numbers
Every telecom service provider will be required to prepare a dedicated database linking subscribers’ registered names with their mobile numbers. Whenever a call is received, the telecom operator will retrieve the caller’s registered name from its database and display it on the recipient’s screen in real time.
According to the proposed mechanism, the system will remove the displayed name from its temporary memory immediately after the call ends. This measure is intended to protect users’ personal data and ensure that the information is not retained unnecessarily.
However, subscribers who have opted for a privacy facility to conceal their names will not have their names displayed on the recipient’s screen. Business users and those using bulk SIM connections will also have the option of displaying their registered business names or trademarks instead of individual subscriber names. To avail themselves of this facility, they will have to provide the necessary documents and undergo verification of the business name registered with the Trademark Registry or the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal through their telecom operators.
### TRAI Recommended the System in February 2024
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended the introduction of this system in February 2024. Following the recommendation, trials were conducted over the subsequent months to assess the feasibility of implementing the service.
In October 2025, TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications reportedly reached an agreement to introduce the facility on a default basis rather than making it dependent on users’ requests or individual activation.
The initiative is intended to strengthen telecom security and help people distinguish legitimate callers from suspicious ones. By displaying the name associated with a SIM card, the system is expected to make it easier for users to identify calls from unknown numbers and exercise greater caution before answering them.
### Expected to Reduce Dependence on Third-Party Caller Identification Apps
The introduction of CNAP is expected to help combat fraudulent calls, cybercrime, scam calls and blackmailing. It may also make it easier for authorities to identify individuals using SIM cards registered under false names, subject to applicable verification and investigation procedures.
At present, many mobile users rely on third-party caller identification applications, such as Truecaller, to identify unknown callers. With the implementation of CNAP, users will be able to access caller-name information directly through their telecom operators’ networks, reducing their dependence on such external applications.
The new facility is therefore expected to add another layer of security to India’s mobile communication system while providing users with greater transparency about incoming calls. However, displaying a registered name alone cannot guarantee that every call is genuine or eliminate all forms of telephone fraud.
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