Summary:
India’s major telecom operators — Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) — have been directed to fully implement the Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) system by March 2026. The initiative, aimed at curbing spam and fraudulent calls, will allow users to see the caller’s name along with the number during incoming calls. The rollout timeline has been extended by three months, with pilot testing already underway.
India Sets March 2026 Deadline for CNAP Rollout
The Indian government have set March 2026 as the final deadline for telecom companies — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) — to deploy the Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) service nationwide. Initially planned for completion by the end of 2025, the timeline was extended to ensure smooth technical integration and inter-operator testing.
According to officials, telecom operators have been instructed to make CNAP live in at least one telecom circle within a week, as part of the initial rollout phase. Early testing between the operators has already begun, marking a key step toward implementation.
How CNAP Will Work
The CNAP system will display the caller’s registered name on the recipient’s screen, providing transparency and reducing the risk of spam, fraud, and scam calls. Initially, only users on 4G and newer networks will be able to access the feature, as older technologies like 2G and 3G lack the required support.
Telecom operators had earlier expressed concerns over implementation costs and technical challenges, but the government is firm on ensuring consumer protection and call authenticity through the system.
#TRAI has issued its response to DoT’s back-reference on the proposal to display the caller’s name on phone screens—even if the number isn’t saved. This feature, called Calling Name Presentation (#CNAP), aims to improve caller ID.
— TRAI (@TRAI) October 28, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/n1fNpdAzCz#DigitalIndia pic.twitter.com/y8HGGTbkTD
Complementary Spam Alert Initiatives
In addition to CNAP, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked operators to strengthen their spam detection and alert systems. Jio and Airtel have already launched these services at scale, while Vodafone Idea is expected to follow soon. Together, CNAP and spam alerts will significantly enhance caller identification and reduce unwanted calls across India’s mobile network.
Why CNAP Matters
The CNAP rollout is a major step toward improving consumer trust, safety, and communication transparency in India’s telecom ecosystem. Once fully implemented, users will have greater control over who contacts them — marking a key milestone in India’s digital security framework.
