Caller Name Display Mandatory From November 1 Under New CNAP Rule

Who Gets It First

Operators have already tested CNAP on 4G and 5G networks, so the rollout starts there. Its use on 2G, 3G and landline networks will be decided after further examination.

Why It Matters: A New Weapon Against Fraud Calls

Until now, many people have relied on third-party caller ID apps to identify unknown numbers. Those apps often depend on crowdsourced names, which can be wrong or easily manipulated. CNAP is different: the name comes from the telecom operator’s official subscriber records, which are linked to KYC verification.

That matters because phone fraud is a serious problem. Indians lost more than ₹22,800 crore to cyber fraud in 2024, according to the government, with scams involving impersonation and fake “digital arrests.” When an unknown caller claims to be from a bank or police but the screen shows a different name, users get an instant warning sign.

CNAP is not a complete solution, though. Fraudsters often use SIMs registered in other people’s names, which is why the government has also been disconnecting lakhs of fraudulent connections through its AI-based verification tool.

Privacy Safeguards

Operators must follow a “security-by-design” approach. The system that fetches caller names must not keep the caller’s identity once the call ends, and networks must be equipped to handle CNAP requests without hurting call quality.

What You Should Do

• Check your own registered name: Make sure the name on your SIM records is correct, since others will now see it.
• Stay alert: A displayed name helps, but always verify suspicious calls independently.
• Report fraud: Use the Sanchar Saathi app’s Chakshu feature, or call 1930 if you’ve lost money.

From November 1, your phone will tell you who’s calling, using official records rather than guesswork. It won’t stop every scam, but it gives millions of users one more line of defence.

With inputs from IANS.