No More ‘Unknown Number’ Calls? DoT Mandates Name Display Alongside Phone Number From November 1

Beginning on November 1, your smartphone will display the name of an unknown caller alongside the phone number. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has amended the legal definition of Calling Line Identification (CLI), which is the technical term for how a caller is identified. The amendment, dated October 13 and numbered 01/Licensing Policy/2026, expands the CLI definition to include the identifier given by the operator, the caller's name recorded in the operator's subscriber records, or any other identification specified by the government later.

The DoT claims this change is for the public interest under a clause allowing it to modify licence terms at any time.

The affected service is called Calling Name Presentation (CNAP). Operators are required to launch CNAP from November 1. When an unknown domestic number contacts you, the screen will reveal the name registered with that number's operator. Contacts saved in your device will maintain displaying the name you have associated with them. International calls will display "International Call."

However, names will not appear for callers who have enabled Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR), a feature that currently hides numbers. Operators are also mandated to delete the name lookup data following each call. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had previously suggested in 2025 that CNAP be enabled by default, with an option to turn it off upon request.

While this change may help mitigate scam calls, the reliability of the displayed name is dependent on the accuracy of the operator's records. The name on the connection's paperwork, which may not necessarily be the actual caller's identity, will be displayed. Operators have been instructed to maintain accurate databases, and the effectiveness of the service in reducing fraud will depend on their performance.