No more spam calls? Govt plans verified caller ID rollout across India by 2026

In a significant move to enhance caller identification, the Telecom Department of India has instructed telecom operators to initiate a pilot program for the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature. This innovative functionality will allow users to view the names of incoming callers, aiming for a nationwide implementation by March 31, 2026, according to a report by PTI. Vodafone Idea has already commenced its CNAP pilot in Haryana, while Reliance Jio is set to follow suit, testing the feature for calls originating from across the country. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is pushing for rapid deployment of this feature, highlighting its importance in reducing spam and fraudulent calls. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) supports the DoT's stance that CNAP should be automatically enabled to reveal the caller's name based on the KYC verification used during the SIM purchase. This official identification aims to provide users with reliable information about incoming calls, in contrast to third-party services like Truecaller, which have been offering similar features for years. TRAI anticipates that the introduction of CNAP will not only minimize spam calls but also help mitigate cybercrime, including financial fraud and digital scams. Initial reports indicate that the feature will be limited to 4G and 5G networks, with smartphone manufacturers likely required to implement this functionality by a specified deadline. However, the exclusion of 2G network users means that over 200 million individuals in India will miss out on this new feature, unless they transition to 4G or 5G services. TRAI's recommendation for CNAP implementation was presented to the DoT in February 2024, suggesting that the feature should only be activated upon subscriber request. Nevertheless, the DoT believes that CNAP should be enabled by default, allowing users the option to disable it if they choose. This initiative marks a crucial step in enhancing user security and trust in telecommunications across India.