CNAP: What is this new feature? Learn how the real caller's name will now be displayed when you answer unknown calls.

What is CNAP: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started gradually implementing the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature in India.

What is CNAP: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started gradually implementing the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature in India. Under this technology, the verified name of the caller will now be displayed on the screen with every incoming call. After its framework was approved in October 2025, live testing began last month, and it is now being rolled out in phases across different networks. It is expected that this feature will be active for all mobile users by March or April 2026.

Why was CNAP needed?

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in cases of fake calls, tele-scams, and fraud by people impersonating bank or government officials. The situation has become so bad that people are hesitant to answer calls from unknown numbers. TRAI believes that if the caller's real and verified name is displayed with the call, it will help users make informed decisions and reduce cases of fraud.

How is CNAP different from other caller ID apps?

The biggest thing that makes CNAP special is its data source. This feature does not rely on third-party apps or names provided by users. Instead, the caller's name is taken directly from the telecom companies' KYC-verified records. This is the same information provided through official documents like Aadhaar when purchasing a SIM card. This means that the name displayed during the call will be the name legally associated with that number, not a tag added by someone based on guesswork.

Phased Rollout

Telecom companies started trials of CNAP on select networks last month to observe its performance in real-world conditions. Currently, this feature is being rolled out to 4G and 5G users first, while older networks will be added later. In addition, TRAI has also asked smartphone companies to ensure that they provide CNAP support in their devices within six months.

What is the difference between Truecaller and CNAP?

Truecaller is already quite popular in India, but CNAP works differently. Truecaller relies on user-submitted and crowdsourced names, which are prone to errors or misleading information. CNAP, on the other hand, is a network-level feature and does not require any app. This makes it difficult to create fake identities, although users have fewer customization options.