CNAP Explained: Caller Names on Your Phone From 1 November
From 1 November 2026, your phone should start showing the name of the person calling you, not just their number, even if you have never saved it. This service is called CNAP, short for Calling Name Presentation. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has told every mobile operator to switch it on across India for 4G and 5G networks from today. You don’t need to apply, install an app or pay anything to start it. Below is how CNAP works, which name it shows, who is left out, and what to do if the name is wrong.
What is CNAP?
CNAP is a network service that shows the caller’s name on the screen of the person being called. According to the DoT circular dated 13 October 2026 (Circular no. 01/Licensing Policy/2026), the name is “the name of the calling user as recorded in subscriber data record” of their telecom operator. In practice, that is the name on the KYC documents used when the SIM was bought.
That makes it different from third-party caller ID apps: CNAP comes from the operator’s own KYC-linked records.
CNAP rollout: what the DoT has ordered
- Start date: 1 November 2026
- Who must offer it: all telecom operators licensed to provide access services, such as Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL
- Where: all service areas (telecom circles) in India
- Which networks: 4G and higher-generation wireless networks. CNAP on 2G, 3G and landlines “shall be considered separately”, the circular says.
- Do you need to request it? No. Operators must provide it to every user “without the requirement of any separate request”.
Operators tested the service before the deadline. MediaNama reports that Jio, Vi and BSNL ran trials in Haryana in November 2025, and Airtel ran its trial in Himachal Pradesh. The idea dates back to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) recommendations on CNAP, issued on 23 February 2024.
Which name will you see?
The circular sets a clear order of preference for the name on your screen:
- If you have saved the number, your phone shows the name in your contacts, as it always has.
- If the number is not saved and the call is domestic, you see the caller’s name from the operator’s records (the CNAP name).
- If the number is not saved and the call is international, the screen shows the words “International Call”.
The number still appears in a separate field, so you always see both. The International Call label matters because many scam calls come from abroad while pretending to be local agencies.
Business and bulk numbers can show a “preferred name”
Companies with business or bulk connections can ask their operator to show a “preferred name” instead of the name in the records. Under the circular, that name must be either a trade mark registered with the Trade Marks Registry or a trade name registered on the GST portal, and the operator must verify it first. This means a bank’s customer care line could show the bank’s registered brand name rather than the name of the company that holds the connection.
Who won’t get a name displayed
- Callers who use CLIR. Users who have taken the calling line identification restriction (CLIR) facility under existing rules will not have their name shown.
- 2G and 3G users and landlines. They are not covered by this circular yet.
- Unsaved international callers. You see “International Call” instead of a name.
Is CNAP safe? What happens to the data?
The DoT has told operators to use a “security-by-design” approach: the system must not keep the caller’s name after the incoming call ends. Each operator keeps a database of names mapped to numbers, and the receiving operator queries it only when a call comes in.
Keep one point in mind: CNAP shows the name the SIM is registered to. It doesn’t prove the caller is who they claim to be. A fraudster using a SIM bought in someone else’s name will show that person’s name. So don’t treat a display name as proof.
How CNAP helps against scam calls
Many frauds begin with a call from an unknown number claiming to be from a bank, a courier company, the police or a gas agency. With CNAP you get one extra check before you trust the caller. If someone says they are from “Cyber Crime Branch” and the screen shows an individual’s name, or “International Call”, that mismatch is a red flag. Our explainer on the digital arrest scam shows how these calls usually develop, and attackers in general are getting faster, as our report on AI agents hacking at machine speed shows.
The same applies to routine calls. If someone calls asking you to complete your LPG e-KYC and wants an OTP, check whether the name shown matches the agency they claim to represent. Genuine processes don’t need you to share OTPs with callers.
What to do if the name shown is wrong
The circular doesn’t set a separate correction process, but it tells every operator to set up a system to “receive, record and maintain grievances” about CNAP and to resolve them in a time-bound way. So:
- If your own name shows incorrectly, contact your operator’s customer care or visit a store with your KYC documents. CNAP uses your subscriber records, so fixing the record fixes the display.
- If a number you don’t recognise shows up under your name, check the connections in your name on the Sanchar Saathi portal and report any that aren’t yours.
- If you get a suspected fraud call, report it through Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi. If you have already lost money, call the 1930 cyber crime helpline or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
The circular doesn’t mention any charge for CNAP, and since it must be provided without a request, it works as a default feature. Watch for official announcements from your operator about how the rollout is going.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of CNAP?
Calling Name Presentation. It shows the caller’s name, as registered with their telecom operator, on your phone screen.
When does CNAP start in India?
From 1 November 2026, on 4G and 5G networks in all service areas, under a DoT circular dated 13 October 2026.
Do I need to activate CNAP on Jio, Airtel or Vi?
No. The DoT has told operators to provide it to every user without a separate request.
Will CNAP replace my saved contact names?
No. If you have saved a number, your saved name still appears first. CNAP names appear only for numbers you haven’t saved.
Can I stop my name from being shown?
The circular says names are not shown for users who have the calling line identification restriction (CLIR) facility under existing guidelines. Ask your operator whether CLIR is available on your connection.
Featured image: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
