New Delhi: India is preparing to introduce a nationwide Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) system that will display the KYC-verified name of every mobile caller. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is currently testing the mechanism in Haryana before rolling it out across the country in the coming months.
The government aims to create a verified identity layer for phone communication, arguing that the system can help curb impersonation, phishing and financial fraud. Unlike private caller-ID apps that depend on user submissions, CNAP will rely solely on telecom operators’ verified documentation collected during SIM registration. Officials say this structure is intended to improve accuracy and reduce the misuse of mobile numbers for fraud.
The move comes as India continues to report rising cases of scam calls involving fake bank representatives, government officials and service providers. Under CNAP, recipients will see the caller’s registered name, allowing them to assess credibility more quickly than current labels such as “spam” or “suspected fraud.”
However, the proposal has triggered concerns among telecom operators and civil society groups. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and several digital-rights organisations have warned that mandatory name disclosure could expose certain users, including women, activists and whistleblowers to safety risks. While the government points to existing identity-masking options under the CLIR service, this feature is currently restricted to a small group of protected users.
Operators testing the pilot in Haryana are also assessing whether networks can fetch and display verified names in real time, including on feature phones that remain widely used. Digital-rights advocates argue that the system’s rollout needs clearer safeguards, especially because CNAP will reveal the caller’s name with every outbound call, even though it does not support anonymous number lookups.
The outcome of the Haryana trial and the government’s approach to addressing privacy concerns will shape how CNAP is implemented nationwide. As India expands KYC-linked digital systems, CNAP is emerging as a key test of how the country balances fraud prevention with user privacy in everyday communication.
