India is preparing to roll out a new caller ID feature that could change the way we answer our phones. Imagine your phone showing you exactly who’s calling—even if you don’t use Truecaller or have internet access. That’s what the upcoming Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service aims to do.

Approved by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), CNAP will display the verified name of a caller right on your screen, directly pulled from telecom records.

How will CNAP work?

When someone calls you, CNAP will automatically show the caller’s real name—the one registered with their mobile operator during SIM card verification. Because it’s based on official data, the name you see will be authentic and accurate.

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TRAI says the idea is simple: to help you make an informed decision before picking up a call. For those concerned about privacy, the system won’t be forced on anyone. Users will be able to opt out by reaching out to their telecom provider.

Why is CNAP important?

With spam calls and phone scams becoming increasingly common, CNAP could be a game-changer in improving trust and safety. Every telecom operator will need to maintain a Calling Name (CNAM) database that connects verified subscriber names to their phone numbers. This means the name that pops up will come from official telecom data—not guesses or crowdsourced inputs.

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What’s happening behind the scenes?

Before giving the green light, the DoT ran pilot tests of CNAP in a few cities on both 4G and 5G networks. The trials went well, but officials did note a few hurdles. Some carriers lacked the necessary software updates, and network infrastructure upgrades were needed to make everything run smoothly.

While there’s no official rollout date yet, telecom operators are expected to start prepping their systems soon. This includes building and syncing databases, updating network equipment, and ensuring seamless integration once the feature goes live.