Mobile users to see caller's registered name on screen as CNAP service begins

Guessing who is on the other end of a call from an unknown number may soon be unnecessary. From November 1, 2026, mobile users across India will see the caller's registered name along with the number when a call comes in. The facility is being introduced as Calling Name Presentation (CNAP).

The system has been brought in under directions of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Its aim is to make it easier to identify callers and to curb spam calls, impersonation and phone fraud.

Until now, people have mostly had to rely on third-party apps such as Truecaller to identify unknown callers, or check the number online themselves. Under CNAP, the caller's registered name will appear on the screen directly through the telecom network, even if the number is not saved in the recipient's contact list.

The name displayed will be the one recorded at the time of SIM registration and KYC for that mobile connection. Numbers already saved in a phone will continue to show the saved name as before. For an unknown caller, the name of the registered subscriber will appear along with the mobile number.

Users will not need to download an app or register separately, as the facility will switch on automatically. It will initially apply to 4G and 5G networks. Implementation on older networks will be considered separately.

Will Truecaller become redundant? Dependence on third-party caller identification apps for basic identification of a name may decline. Unlike crowd-sourced databases, CNAP will draw the caller's details from the subscriber records of telecom companies.

One point needs to be understood, however. A registered name appearing on the screen does not mean the call is genuine or safe. Fraudsters can deceive people even by using genuine or hacked mobile connections.

The DoT has also outlined some privacy safeguards. Subscribers who hide their caller identity through the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility will not have their names shown in CNAP. Businesses may also be allowed to display a verified trade or brand name after completing the prescribed documentation and verification process.

For crores of mobile users, this could mean knowing who is calling before they pick up an unknown number. Whether a delivery executive, a business representative, a service provider or a stranger, the caller's registered identity may now appear directly on the phone screen.