Stories
Government Introduces CNAP To Show Caller Names On Phones
- •The Department of Telecommunications has directed telecom operators to introduce Calling Name Presentation starting November 1, 2026.
- •CNAP will display the registered subscriber's name along with the mobile number on 4G and 5G networks by default without needing third-party apps.
- •The system retrieves names from the caller's telecom database for domestic calls while international calls will be marked as International Call.
- •Privacy safeguards ensure that retrieved names are not retained after the call ends and users with Calling Line Identification Restriction remain excluded.
- •Industry experts note that CNAP complements third-party apps like Truecaller but does not automatically prevent spam or fraud calls.
Key Questions Answered
The Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service is a government-directed telecom initiative designed to display a caller's registered name alongside their mobile number on the recipient's screen. Telecom operators in India have been instructed to introduce this feature starting November 1, 2026, to help users easily identify unknown incoming calls without requiring third-party apps.
If an incoming call comes from a number already stored in your device, the phone will display your saved contact name. For unsaved domestic numbers, the system automatically pulls the registered subscriber's name directly from the caller's telecom operator database, while international incoming calls will simply appear as "International Call".
In its initial phase, CNAP will be enabled by default for users on 4G and newer wireless networks like 5G, while 2G, 3G, and landline networks will be evaluated separately. To protect user privacy, telecom operators must ensure that retrieved names are not retained after the call ends, and individuals using Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) remain excluded.
