If you have recently received calls where the caller’s name appeared on your screen—even though the number was not saved in your contacts—you are not alone. This new experience is part of a major initiative introduced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The feature, known as Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), is being rolled out gradually across the country with the goal of curbing fraud and scam calls.
Until now, identifying unknown callers largely depended on third-party applications such as Truecaller. With CNAP, however, users will be able to see the registered name of the caller directly on their phone screens, without installing any external app. According to reports, CNAP is expected to be available nationwide by March 31, 2026, fundamentally changing how users interact with incoming calls.
What Is CNAP and How Does It Work?
Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) is a supplementary telecom service that displays the caller’s name along with their phone number, even if the caller is not saved in the recipient’s contact list. The name shown can be up to 80 characters long and is sourced directly from the information provided during SIM card purchase as part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) process.
For CNAP to function, the caller’s telecom operator sends a Presentation Indicator (PI) to the receiver’s CNAP-enabled service. This indicator ensures that the caller information remains accurate and updated for every call. The calling network is required to share CNAP data each time a call is initiated, making the service consistent and reliable across networks.
CNAP will be mandatory across all telecom services, with the exception of SMS. The service is designed to operate seamlessly in the background, requiring no additional action from users once it is enabled on their network.
Nationwide Rollout Timeline
The CNAP pilot project has been underway since October 2025. Based on its progress, authorities expect a full nationwide rollout by March 31, 2026. The service will be supported on both 4G and 5G networks, ensuring compatibility with modern smartphones across India.
One of the key advantages of CNAP is that it eliminates the need for third-party caller identification apps. The service relies entirely on SIM enrollment data and official purchase documents to determine and display the caller’s registered name. Users will also retain control over their privacy, as the facility can be disabled using the Caller ID Restriction option if they choose not to display their name.
CNAP vs Truecaller: What’s the Difference?
At a basic level, CNAP and Truecaller serve the same purpose: identifying who is calling by displaying a name along with the phone number. However, the way they operate is fundamentally different.
CNAP is a network-based service provided directly by telecom operators. It does not require an internet connection, nor does it rely on external applications. Most importantly, the caller’s name shown through CNAP is taken from verified KYC documents submitted during SIM registration, making it official and standardized.
Truecaller, on the other hand, is a third-party app that depends on crowdsourced data. The names displayed are often sourced from users’ contact lists, which can result in multiple or inconsistent names appearing for the same number. These names are not officially verified and may not reflect the caller’s real or registered identity. Additionally, Truecaller requires an active internet connection to function.
A Step Toward Safer Communication
The introduction of CNAP marks a significant step toward improving transparency and security in India’s telecom ecosystem. By allowing users to see verified caller names without relying on third-party apps, the initiative aims to reduce the impact of spam, fraud, and scam calls.
As CNAP rolls out nationwide in 2026, users can expect a more trustworthy calling experience—one where unknown calls are no longer completely anonymous, and where safety and accountability take center stage in everyday communication.