No more guesswork! Your Phone will soon dhow Who is calling

Punjab Newsline | New Delhi

The name and phone number of a caller will soon appear on a recipient’s mobile screen when a call comes in, making it easier to identify unknown callers and spot potentially fraudulent calls.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed telecom operators to introduce the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service from November 1, 2026. Under the proposed system, the caller’s name, as registered when purchasing the SIM card, will be displayed along with the phone number on the recipient’s screen.

The government has instructed telecom companies to make the service mandatory across all 4G and 5G mobile networks from the specified date. Users will not need to activate the feature separately, as it is intended to be available automatically.

How Will the CNAP Service Work?

When a person receives a call from an unknown number, the phone screen will display both the caller’s number and the name associated with the SIM registration. This will help users identify who is calling before answering the phone.

Currently, many users rely on third-party caller identification applications to identify unknown numbers. With CNAP, the caller’s registered name will be displayed through the telecom network itself.

Will CNAP Help Prevent Fraudulent Calls?

The introduction of CNAP is expected to help users identify unfamiliar callers and make more informed decisions about answering incoming calls. Displaying the registered name alongside the number could also make it easier to flag suspicious calls.

However, the service may not eliminate fraudulent calls entirely. Users should continue to exercise caution, as a displayed name alone does not guarantee that a call is genuine or that the caller can be trusted.

The service is part of the government’s efforts to improve caller identification and strengthen protection against unwanted and potentially fraudulent calls.