Caller's name to show on 4G, 5G calls from November 1 under DoT's CNAP order

Many people wonder every day whether to pick up a call from an unknown number, and fraud calls made in the name of a bank or a courier are common. The government has now taken a major decision on this. From November 1, the name of the caller will be displayed on every call received on a mobile phone. For this, the CNAP system, short for Calling Name Presentation, has been made mandatory.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has given a clear order to all telecom companies, including Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL. CNAP must be started on all 4G and 5G networks in the country from November 1. There is no exemption. Companies are currently testing it in different circles, and some users have already started seeing the name on calls.

The DoT has said that the rule is for now only for 4G and 5G. A separate order for 2G, 3G and landline numbers will come later, because their technology is different.

Many will ask whether this is the same as Truecaller. It is not. Truecaller is an app that shows a name based on what people have saved, so it often shows a wrong name. Whatever someone saves your name as is what appears.

CNAP, however, is a government system. The name given when taking the SIM, the one on the KYC documents, that is, the name on the Aadhaar card, will be shown to the person receiving the call. This is called the name in the Customer Application Form (CAF). For example, if you have taken a SIM in the name Rahul Patil, then when you call someone, the name Rahul Patil will appear on their phone. You cannot change or hide this name. This will make fraud very difficult.

The biggest benefit is that spam and fraud calls will stop. Nowadays a caller says he is speaking from a bank and that the KYC needs to be updated, but there is no way of knowing who he is. Once CNAP is in place, his real name will be visible. If the name is different and he claims to be from a bank, it will be immediately clear that this is fraud.

Even if an unknown number calls, it will be known in advance whose number it is. An important call can be picked up and others can be avoided, so important calls will not be missed. It will also be safer for women. Harassing calls are often made from unknown numbers. With the name now visible, it will be easier to take quick action against such people.

Although the government has taken the decision, some questions remain. Clarity is still awaited on what happens if someone has taken a SIM in another person's name, or whose name will be displayed on a SIM taken in the name of a company. There is also discussion on the privacy of people who do not want to show their name to everyone. The government says, however, that this step is necessary for security.

Overall, from November 1 the need for apps like Truecaller will end, and the real name will appear in the phone itself through the government system. This could be a big relief for ordinary mobile users.