India Mandates Caller Name Display

The Indian government has mandated that callers display their name and phone number when making a call, starting November 1, 2026, to help identify incoming calls from unknown numbers.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom operators to introduce Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) on 4G and newer networks, including 5G. This system will display the caller's name and phone number, unless the caller has enabled Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR).

The CNAP system will use subscriber information stored in the telecom operators' databases to display the caller's name. If the caller's number is saved in the recipient's contacts, the saved name will be displayed. If not, the name the caller entered in the telecom operator's system will appear.

Businesses and bulk connections may be allowed to use a different name from the one found in the operator's subscriber database for display purposes, if supported by a registered trademark or trade name. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) made recommendations in February 2024 that were incorporated into the mandate.

The rollout for 2G and 3G networks, as well as landline connections, will be considered separately. International calls will be displayed as 'International Call'.

## Why it matters The new system is designed to enhance caller identification and assist users in identifying legitimate calls from potentially fraudulent calls. This move is expected to help people avoid unwanted calls and reduce the risk of falling prey to scams. With the increasing number of spam and fraudulent calls, this mandate is a step towards making communication safer and more transparent.

## What happens next The telecom operators will need to create and maintain a database that connects subscribers' names to their telephone numbers. The receiving operator will retrieve the necessary data and display it during the incoming call. The DoT order has called for the telecom operators to implement a security-by-design methodology, ensuring that caller names retrieved through the query-response mechanism cannot be retained after the incoming call ends.