Caller name display (CNAP) from 1 November 2026: what changes and how to stay safe from scam calls
From 1 November 2026 phone operators must show the caller's name with the number on 4G and 5G. How it works, who is excluded, and why a name is not proof.
From 1 November 2026, incoming calls on Indian mobile networks will show a name as well as a number. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) told all phone operators, in a circular dated 13 October 2026, to start Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) across all service areas from that date, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine and The Indian Express on 15 October 2026. The aim is to help people recognise who is calling and to cut down fraud calls. It matters for your money because many bank, card and KYC scams begin with a phone call.
What changes on your phone
- The number appears as it does today. The name appears in a second field.
- The service is switched on by the operator. You do not need to apply or install an app.
- The first rollout covers 4G and higher networks. DoT said 2G, 3G and landline networks will be considered separately.
Which name will you see
DoT set an order of priority, as reported by Mint:
- If the number is saved in your contacts, your own saved name shows first.
- If it is not saved and the call is from India, the name on record with the caller's operator shows.
- If it is not saved and the call is from abroad, the screen shows "International Call".
Callers who have opted for Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) will not have their name shown. Businesses with bulk or business connections can ask for a verified "preferred name" instead, such as a registered trademark or a trade name registered on the GST portal. The operator must check the original documents first.
Privacy and complaints
Operators must build the service so that the name is not stored after the call ends. They must also set up a time-bound way to handle complaints. If a wrong name is shown against a number, complain to the operator of your phone connection.
Why a name is not proof
The name comes from the caller's connection record. It does not prove that the person is who they say they are or that the call is genuine, and Mint noted that the service is not a ban on spam calls.
- No bank, RBI or police officer will ask for your OTP, UPI PIN, card CVV or password on a call.
- Do not stay on a video or phone call with someone who says you are under "digital arrest". See our guide on bank compensation in digital arrest cases.
- Call your bank back on the number printed on your card or on its official website, not on a number the caller gives.
- Report fraud on the 1930 helpline or at cybercrime.gov.in, and tell your bank at once if money has left your account.
Sources: Callers' names must show on phones from Nov 1, telecom department orders operators (The Indian Express, 15 October 2026) | Government makes caller identification mandatory from November 1 (The Hindu BusinessLine, 15 October 2026) | Caller name display mandatory from November 1 (Mint, 15 October 2026) | DoT circular on CNAP (dated 13 October 2026)
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