Govt mandates caller name display on incoming calls from Nov 1

New Delhi: Mobile subscribers across India will begin seeing callers’ names alongside their phone numbers from November 1, 2026, as the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directs operators to introduce Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) across their service areas.

The feature will be activated automatically for eligible users, without requiring them to register or request access. Trials have already been conducted on 4G and newer wireless networks, while its rollout on 2G, 3G and landline networks will be considered separately.

Under the system, incoming calls from numbers saved in a user’s contacts will continue to show the stored names. For unsaved domestic numbers, the display will show the name registered in the caller’s telecom subscriber records. Calls originating internationally will be marked as “International Call”.

The framework follows Rule 48(1) of the Telecommunications (Authorisation for Provision of Principal Telecommunication Services) Rules, 2026, which sets requirements for secure caller identification and protection against manipulation.

Telecom companies must ensure that the system operates securely and does not retain caller-name information after a call ends. They must also maintain sufficient network and database capacity to handle requests without disrupting service.

Businesses can use a preferred display name instead of their subscriber-record name, provided it is supported by a registered trademark or a trade name listed on the Goods and Services Tax portal.

With IANS inputs