15 October,2026 12:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), issuing an official statement on October 13, has directed telecom service providers to introduce Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service across all service areas in India from November 1, 2026.
As per the official press note, the service will display the caller's name on the recipient's phone during an incoming call, in addition to the caller's telephone number.
The Department of Telecommunications, under the Ministry of Communications, instructed all telecom service providers authorised to offer access services to implement the facility across their wireless terrestrial networks using 4G and higher-generation technologies.
The move by DoT aims at enabling recipients to identify callers through the name associated with their subscriber records, helping users make more informed decisions about answering incoming calls.
DoT while rolling out the feature, stated, "Every new authorised entity shall ensure presentation of calling line identification to a called user in a manner that is secured from tampering and in accordance with such requirements as may be specified in the portal."
Under the DoT's instructions, the caller identification displayed on the recipient's phone will contain two fields: the caller's telephone number and the caller's name.
If the caller's number is already saved in the recipient's contact list, the name saved in that contact list will be displayed. If the number is not saved, the caller's name for a domestic call will be retrieved from the originating telecom operator's subscriber database.
For international calls, the words "International Call" will be displayed when the caller's number is not saved in the recipient's contact list.
The order stated, "International call" means a call that originates in the territory of one country and terminates in the territory of another, where one of the countries is India."
DoT added, "Each originating TSP shall establish, operate, and maintain a database of calling name identity mapped against the telecommunication identifier assigned to each user, and the terminating TSP shall retrieve the calling name identity from such database and present the same to the called user."
The DoT has specified that telecom operators must provide CNAP to users without requiring them to submit a separate request.
The initial rollout will cover wireless terrestrial networks operating on 4G and higher-generation technologies. The introduction of the service on 2G and 3G networks, as well as public switched telephone networks, will be considered separately after further examination, the circular stated.
The circular also allows telecom operators to offer a "preferred name" facility to users holding business or bulk connections, subject to verification.
While introducing a calling name presentation service in telecommunication networks, every TSP shall take appropriate technical measures for the security of communications, including the following, namely:
Under the provision, eligible users may be allowed to display a preferred name instead of the name recorded in the telecom operator's subscriber database. The preferred name must be either a registered trademark belonging to the user or a trade name registered on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) portal.
Telecom operators will be required to verify the relevant documents before approving a preferred name. For new connections, the name must be recorded in the customer application form and subscriber database, along with supporting registration documents. For existing connections, operators must establish a mechanism for users to submit applications to update their preferred names after verification.
The DoT has further directed telecom operators to adopt appropriate technical and organisational safeguards while implementing the service.
These include a security-by-design approach under which the query-response mechanism must ensure that the caller's name identity is not retained after the incoming call is completed. Operators must also maintain service quality and ensure that their databases, networks, and connectivity infrastructure can process name queries efficiently.
Telecom service providers have also been instructed to establish grievance redressal mechanisms to receive and resolve complaints relating to the CNAP service within a specified timeframe.
However, the circular clarifies that the caller's name identity will not be displayed for users who have activated the Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) facility in accordance with existing guidelines.
The DoT's October 13 circular sets November 1, 2026, as the implementation date for CNAP across 4G and higher-generation wireless networks, while leaving its rollout on older networks and landline systems for separate consideration.
