Tired Of Unknown Numbers? Soon You Will See Real Names On Incoming Calls

Tired of spam and fake calls every day? The Central Government is working on an official fix for that. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is bringing a new system called Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), which will soon let your phone show the real, verified name of whoever’s calling -- no Truecaller, no third-party apps. The name will come straight from the telecom operator’s database, using details collected during SIM registration.In simple terms, When someone calls, you’ll instantly see who it really is not just a number or random name saved by others. The system wants to cut down on scams, spam, and mystery calls, helping users decide whether to pick up or block the caller instantly.TRAI says the feature will be enabled by default

but users can opt out anytime. Telecom operators are now working on backend upgrades after successful pilot runs across 4G and 5G networks. Once rolled out nationwide, CNAP could become one of the world’s largest verified caller ID systems, and a major step toward safer, more transparent communication in India.

How The System Will Work

When a call is made, the telecom operator handling the call will check its Calling Name (CNAM) database, which maps every verified user’s name to their phone number. That name will then appear on the receiver’s phone -- whether it’s a basic phone or a smartphone -- without needing any external apps or internet access.TRAI has confirmed that CNAP will be enabled by default for all users once implemented, although subscribers will be free to opt out through their telecom provider if they prefer. This ensures a balance between user privacy and safety, while also helping curb spam and scam calls that continue to trouble millions of Indians.

What Happens Next

Before approving the rollout, the DoT conducted trial runs on 4G and 5G networks across select Indian cities. These tests showed the system works effectively for data and VoIP calls but still requires software updates and network upgrades for full-scale deployment on traditional voice calls.Once these upgrades are complete, CNAP will be introduced as a optional feature. With spam and fraud calls on the rise, a government-backed caller ID could be the much-needed step toward a safer and more transparent calling experience for every Indian user.