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CNAP: Verified Caller Name on Calls and Opt-Out

Soon, your phone will show the caller's real KYC-verified name on every incoming call, even for numbers not saved in your contacts. This feature is called CNAP (Calling Name Presentation). The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have agreed that CNAP should be switched on by default for all subscribers, with a right to opt out and disable it if you prefer privacy. Here is what CNAP means for you and how to turn it off.

What CNAP is

CNAP stands for Calling Name Presentation. When someone calls you, your screen shows not just the number but the caller's name exactly as registered in their telecom operator's KYC records (the Customer Acquisition Form, or CAF). Unlike Truecaller and similar apps, which rely on crowd-sourced and unverified data, CNAP draws the name directly from the originating operator's verified subscriber database. The aim is to make it harder for fraudsters and spammers to hide behind anonymous or fake-named numbers.

Where CNAP stands right now

CNAP is rolling out, not yet a finished nationwide mandate with a single switch-on date. Here is the honest status:

  1. TRAI first recommended CNAP on 23 February 2024, originally suggesting an opt-in model where subscribers would have to request the service.
  2. DoT sent a back-reference dated 26 September 2025, preferring that CNAP be on by default for everyone.
  3. TRAI issued its response on 28 October 2025 agreeing with DoT: CNAP should be enabled by default for all subscribers, with an option to opt out and disable it on request.
  4. Telecom operators began rollout in late 2025, with broad availability expected to spread through 2026.

So the correct way to read this is: CNAP is coming to your phone by default, and you have a right to opt out. It is not yet a fully in-force law with a fixed nationwide live date, so treat any specific switch-on claim with caution.

How CNAP works

The flow is built into the network, so you do not install anything:

  1. Source of the name. When you make a call, the network looks up your name in your own operator's KYC and CAF records.
  2. Display to the receiver. That verified name travels with the call and appears on the other person's screen alongside your number.
  3. Phased by network. Rollout starts with 4G and 5G networks, where the technology is ready, and extends to 2G and 3G later when technically feasible.
  4. Default on. Under the agreed model, the feature is active for subscribers by default, rather than something each person must request.

Because the name comes from operator records and not a third-party app, businesses and individuals show up under the identity they used to buy the SIM.

How to opt out of CNAP

If you would rather not have your name displayed to people you call, you can opt out. Exact steps depend on your operator, but the general route is:

  1. Contact your telecom operator. Call customer care, use the official app, or visit a store for your provider (Jio, Airtel, Vi, or BSNL) and request that CNAP be disabled for your number.
  2. Ask for CLIR if you want full number privacy. Subscribers who use Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR), which hides your number, will not have their name shown either. CLIR is a stronger privacy setting your operator can activate.
  3. Keep a record. Note the date, the request reference number, and the agent name, so you can follow up if the change does not take effect.

Opting out only stops your own name from being shown to others. It does not stop you from seeing the verified names of people who call you.

Privacy and limitations

CNAP is useful, but it has real limits worth knowing:

  1. Accuracy depends on KYC. The name shown is whatever is in the operator's records. If a business registered under a confusing trade name, that is what appears.
  2. Not every network yet. During the phased rollout, older 2G and 3G connections may not show names for some time.
  3. CLIR overrides display. Anyone using CLIR will still call you without a name, so CNAP does not unmask every caller.
  4. It is not a spam block. CNAP helps you judge a call, but blocking persistent spam still relies on do-not-disturb tools and AI spam detection systems. For more on that, see the wiki guide on TRAI AI spam detection and call blocking.

A simple example: when Dr. Shrawan Kumar Pathak gets a call from an unsaved number, CNAP can show the registered name of the caller, helping him decide whether to answer a possible bank or hospital call versus a likely scam.

Frequently asked questions

Is CNAP live across India yet?

Not as a single nationwide mandate with a fixed date. TRAI and DoT have agreed on a default-on model with an opt-out, and operators began a phased rollout in late 2025, with wider availability expected through 2026.

Will CNAP be on automatically or do I have to enable it?

Under the model TRAI and DoT agreed on 28 October 2025, CNAP is meant to be enabled by default for all subscribers. You do not have to request it, but you can opt out.

How is CNAP different from Truecaller?

Truecaller relies on crowd-sourced, user-submitted data that anyone can edit. CNAP uses the name from the originating operator's verified KYC and CAF records, so it is harder to fake.

Can I stop my name from showing to people I call?

Yes. Contact your operator and ask to disable CNAP for your number, or request CLIR for stronger number-and-name privacy. Keep the request reference for follow-up.

Will CNAP work on my old 2G phone?

Possibly later. The rollout starts with 4G and 5G networks and extends to 2G and 3G when it becomes technically feasible, so older connections may not show names at first.

Does CNAP show the name on every single call?

No. Callers who use CLIR will not have a name displayed, and during the phased rollout some networks and numbers may not yet support it.

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