Telecom firms must show caller names starting November 1

All telecom operators must show the KYC-linked names of incoming callers starting November 1, following a mandate issued by the Department of Telecommunications in a circular dated Tuesday, October 15, 2026.

Implementation

Known as Caller Name Presentation or CNAP, the system has been in development for years and was tested within individual telecom networks through much of 2025. Operators must upgrade their networks to handle this feature without lowering call quality or compromising user privacy by storing displayed names. Certain high-level figures are exempt under Caller Line Identity Restriction rules, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and other senior officials and intelligence agencies. Furthermore, users who registered their SIM cards as minors under a parent's name will see their parents' names on calls, which requires an ownership transfer with family cooperation.

Context

This system aims to help phone users identify unknown callers and cut down on fraud and spam. Telecom regulations like this one are designed to balance digital security needs with consumer privacy protections across the country.