New Telecom Rules: You will know who is calling as soon as the phone rings; new rule to take effect from November 1st..

Previously, when receiving a call from an unknown number, people would often answer, assuming it might be something important. However, such calls frequently turned out to be spam or scams. The government has now introduced a new regulation that will display the caller's name on the screen when a call comes in. Starting November 1, it will be mandatory for all mobile service providers to display the caller's name. In other words, under this new rule, incoming calls will show not just the mobile number, but also the name of the person or entity calling. The Department of Telecommunications has amended the regulations concerning caller identification.

According to an order issued on October 13, the new rule will come into effect on November 1, 2026. Under this mandate, the caller's name—as recorded in the subscriber's official records—will be included alongside their phone number as part of the identification information. This directive applies to all telecommunications companies.

How will this feature work?
When a call is received, the phone screen will display the name of the caller—whether an individual or a company—in addition to their phone number. This will allow you to decide for yourself whether or not to answer the call. This could prove particularly beneficial for the elderly or those with limited formal education, who might otherwise answer unknown calls without hesitation.

Which networks will support this feature?
According to a report by CNBC, this service will not be available on 2G or 3G networks. Consequently, users on these older networks will not have access to this feature. It will be available exclusively to users on 4G and higher-generation networks.

Exercise caution nonetheless.
While seeing a name can help identify spam or scam calls, it does not guarantee that every call displaying a name is safe. Fraudsters may sometimes use aliases or fabricate identities. Therefore, never share bank account details, OTPs, Aadhaar numbers, or any other personal information during calls from unknown numbers. If necessary, verify the information by calling back through an official, trusted number. This new rule will certainly provide some relief to the general public. There will no longer be a need to answer every single call from an unknown number. However, it is always important to remain cautious.

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