India Mandates Caller Name Display to Combat Cyber Fraud

The Department of Telecommunications has ordered all licensed telecom operators in India to implement Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) services starting November 1, 2026. The system will automatically display the registered name of domestic callers alongside their phone numbers for recipients who have not saved the contact, utilizing verified Know Your Customer (KYC) databases.

The service will launch by default for users on 4G, 5G, and newer networks, while the government continues to evaluate implementation for 2G, 3G, and landlines. Unrecognized international calls will be identified simply as "International Call". To protect privacy, the mandate requires a "security-by-design" approach, ensuring that caller names are not retained after a call ends. Additionally, operators must establish grievance-redressal mechanisms for complaints.

Users may maintain anonymity by using the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility. Businesses with bulk connections can apply to display registered trademarks or GST-registered trade names instead of individual subscriber names, subject to operator verification. The initiative, informed by recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India issued on February 23, 2024, aims to help subscribers identify spam and combat cyber fraud.