When does caller name display start in India?

DoT has told all mobile operators to introduce it across all service areas from 1 November 2026, on 4G and higher networks (DoT circular dated 13 Oct 2026).

Do I need to activate CNAP?

No. Operators must provide it to every user without a separate request.

Will it replace the names I saved in my contacts?

No. If the number is saved in your phone, your saved name is shown first.

Will it work on 2G, 3G or landline calls?

Not from 1 November. DoT says 2G, 3G and landline networks will be considered separately.

What name is shown for a foreign number?

If the number isn't saved in your contacts, the screen shows "International Call."

Can a business show its brand name?

Yes, if it holds a business or bulk connection and the name is a registered trademark or a GST-registered trade name, verified by the operator.

What if my name shows wrongly?

Complain to your operator. The circular requires every operator to receive and resolve CNAP complaints in a time-bound way.

Home › Learn › Tech › Caller name display (CNAP)

Caller name on incoming calls from 1 November 2026: what CNAP changes

Last checked: 27 Oct 2026, 10:30 AM IST

Next update: after 1 Nov 2026, once operators start showing names, or if DoT issues new instructions.

In short

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has told all mobile operators to start Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) in their 4G and higher networks across all service areas from 1 November 2026. When an unsaved Indian number calls you, your phone should show the name the caller is registered under with their operator, alongside the number. You don't need to apply or switch anything on (DoT Circular No. 01/Licensing Policy/2026, 13 Oct 2026).

What you'll see on your screen

The circular says the caller ID shown to you has two fields: the number (as today), and a name chosen in this order (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026):

Who is calling you	Name shown
A number saved in your contacts	The name you saved it under
An unsaved Indian number (domestic call)	The name in the caller's operator records (their SIM registration)
An unsaved Indian business or bulk connection that has registered a "preferred name"	That verified preferred name (see below)
An international call from an unsaved number	The words "International Call"
A caller who has the CLIR (calling line identification restriction) facility under DoT rules	No name is shown

Who it covers, and who it doesn't (yet)

Covered from 1 Nov 2026: calls on operators' wireless networks built on 4G and higher technology (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).
Not yet: 2G and 3G networks and landlines (PSTN). DoT says these "shall be considered separately, after examination" (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026; Hindu BusinessLine, 15 Oct 2026).
Automatic: operators must give the service to every user "without the requirement of any separate request" (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).
Calls inside apps: the circular is about calls on operators' telecom networks. It does not mention calls made inside apps.

Business names: the "preferred name" rule

Businesses and bulk-connection holders may ask their operator to show a preferred name instead of the registered name. The preferred name must be either a trademark registered in the user's name with the Trade Marks Registry, or a trade name registered on the GST portal, and the operator must verify it first. For new connections it goes on the application form; for existing ones, operators must set up a way to apply (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026; Business Standard, 15 Oct 2026).

If you run a shop or small business in Hyderabad and call customers from a business connection, ask your operator how to apply. Have your trademark or GST trade-name proof ready.

Why it's being done

Hindu BusinessLine reports the move is meant to protect people from unsolicited commercial calls (Hindu BusinessLine, 15 Oct 2026). It follows TRAI's recommendations of 23 Feb 2024 and DoT's 21 Nov 2025 instructions on KYC issues during CNAP rollout (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026; DoT instructions, 21 Nov 2025).

Safeguards in the circular

Operators must use a "security-by-design" approach in which the name lookup does not retain the caller's name after the call ends (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).
Each operator must keep its own name database, and the receiving operator fetches the name from it for each call (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).
Each operator must set up a way to receive and fix complaints about CNAP "in a time bound manner" (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).

What you can do before 1 November

Check the name on your own SIM. CNAP shows the name in your operator's records. If your connection is in a family member's or employer's name, that is the name others may see. Contact your operator through its official customer-care channels if you need to correct it.
Keep saving numbers you know. Your saved name always comes first (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).
Treat a name as a hint, not proof. A displayed name tells you whose name the number is registered in. It doesn't confirm why the person is calling. Never share OTPs or bank details just because a name appears.
If a name looks wrong, complain through your operator's grievance channel. The circular requires operators to handle CNAP complaints (DoT circular, 13 Oct 2026).

Related on Soshyal

What you can do before 1 November

Check the name on your own SIM with your operator if it may be wrong for others to see.
Keep saving numbers you know — your saved name is shown first.
Treat a displayed name as a hint, not proof; never share OTPs just because a name appears.
If a name looks wrong after 1 Nov, complain through your operator’s grievance channel.
Share this with friends who may see a new name on their screen after 1 Nov
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See what people near you are getting

After 1 November, tell people in Ask Hyderabad whether caller names are showing on your network. For a wrong name on your own number, contact your operator, not a chat room. Rooms are 18+.

Join Ask Hyderabad Chat rooms in Hyderabad

FAQ

When does caller name display start in India?: DoT has told all mobile operators to introduce it across all service areas from 1 November 2026, on 4G and higher networks (DoT circular dated 13 Oct 2026).
Do I need to activate CNAP?: No. Operators must provide it to every user without a separate request.
Will it replace the names I saved in my contacts?: No. If the number is saved in your phone, your saved name is shown first.
Will it work on 2G, 3G or landline calls?: Not from 1 November. DoT says 2G, 3G and landline networks will be considered separately.
What name is shown for a foreign number?: If the number isn't saved in your contacts, the screen shows "International Call."
Can a business show its brand name?: Yes, if it holds a business or bulk connection and the name is a registered trademark or a GST-registered trade name, verified by the operator.
What if my name shows wrongly?: Complain to your operator. The circular requires every operator to receive and resolve CNAP complaints in a time-bound way.

Sources

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