Lucknow. Now it may soon become easier to identify calls coming from unknown numbers in the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom companies to start Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service from November 1, 2026. Under this facility, users will be able to see the name of the caller along with the mobile number during the incoming call. This service is to be started on mobile networks with 4G and newer technology.
Read: Cyber fraud in the name of service, Rs 90,000 looted on the pretext of air purifier repair in Varanasi
The purpose of CNAP is to make it easier to identify unknown calls coming to the phone. Currently, if a person does not have a number saved in their phone, usually only the number is visible when a call comes in. Many users use apps like Truecaller to know the name of the caller. After the arrival of CNAP, the dependency on third-party apps may be reduced.
What is CNAP and how will it work?
CNAP i.e. Calling Name Presentation is a caller identification facility working on telecom networks. Under this, the name of the person calling will be shown on the basis of the subscriber record of his telecom operator. That means, this information will not be based only on reports given by other users or on the database of any third-party app.
If a person's number is not saved in your phone and he calls you, his name information can be shown on the screen through CNAP. At the same time, if the number is already saved in your contacts, then the saved name may appear in the phone. However, since the name displayed on the screen is based on the SIM's registration record, it may not always match the real identity of the person making the call.
Read:- International cyber scam worth Rs 200 crore was going on in Lucknow, 5th failed mastermind and his girlfriend caught from Kolkata.
Two types of information will be visible on the screen
According to the instructions of the Department of Telecommunications, when a call is received, two information will be visible on the phone screen. The first will contain the mobile number of the caller and the second will contain his name. If the caller's number is saved in your contacts, the saved name will appear in your phone. If the number is not saved, the name recorded in the subscriber records of the telecom operator will be shown for domestic calls. Whereas, in case of international calls, 'International Call' will be visible on the screen.
To implement this system, all telecom companies will have to keep a database of mobile numbers and names of their subscribers ready. The operator receiving the call will have to take the name information from this database and send it to the user's phone. The government has also directed that the name of the caller obtained through this process should not be retained after the call is terminated.
2G and 3G users will have to wait
CNAP will currently be launched on 4G and newer technology wireless networks. Implementation of this feature on landline phones with 2G and 3G networks will be considered separately. That is, in the initial phase, it is not certain that all mobile network users will get this benefit and only 4G or 5G users will get this facility.
Read :- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's big statement on Sanchar Sathi app, said – forcibly implementing anything in a democracy is a matter of concern.
Let us tell you, seeing the name of the caller can help in identifying suspicious calls, but CNAP does not guarantee to completely stop fraud calls. Even if the correct name appears on a call, an attempt to fraud may occur. Therefore, users should not share OTP, UPI PIN or personal information related to banking with any unknown person on the phone.