In a major breakthrough aimed at curbing India’s rising telecom fraud and spam call menace, Reliance Jio has begun rolling out its Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) service, a network-level feature that displays the verified, real name of the caller on users’ screens during incoming calls.
The service, now live in several states, marks a decisive shift in how unknown calls are identified in India. Unlike third-party apps that rely on crowd-sourced data, Jio’s CNAP pulls caller identity directly from official telecom records, using the name submitted at the time of SIM activation through Aadhaar or other KYC documents.
How CNAP Changes the Game
For years, mobile users have depended on apps like Truecaller to identify unknown numbers. However, such platforms often display names saved or tagged by other users, leaving room for errors, fake labels and even deliberate impersonation.
CNAP works differently. Being integrated directly into Jio’s telecom network, it ensures that the name displayed is verified, authentic and operator-approved, making it far harder for scammers to hide behind fake identities. Industry experts believe this could significantly restore trust in voice calls, which has eroded due to relentless spam and fraud attempts.
States Where CNAP Is Live
The service has already been activated in multiple circles, including:
Bihar
Uttar Pradesh (East)
West Bengal
Rajasthan
Punjab
Kerala
Assam
Jharkhand
Odisha
Jio is rolling out CNAP in phases, with pan-India availability expected in the coming months. Other telecom operators—Airtel, Vodafone Idea and BSNL—are also preparing to introduce similar features following directions from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Government Warning on ‘Silent Calls’
The CNAP launch comes alongside a fresh advisory from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) warning users about “silent calls”—calls that disconnect or remain mute after being answered. Officials say such calls are often used by fraudsters to check whether a number is active before launching scams.
Users are advised to block and report suspicious numbers via the Sanchar Saathi portal, a government-backed platform for telecom fraud reporting.
Why CNAP Matters for Users
Telecom analysts say CNAP could dramatically improve India’s calling experience:
●Users can instantly identify unknown callers
●Reduced risk of impersonation and fraud
●Greater confidence in answering calls
●Especially helpful for elderly and less tech-savvy users
By placing verified identity information at the first point of contact, CNAP adds a critical layer of protection without requiring users to install additional apps.
Privacy Concerns and Safeguards
While the feature has been widely welcomed, privacy advocates have urged telecom operators to ensure strict compliance with data protection norms. Industry sources maintain that CNAP displays only essential identification details and operates within regulatory boundaries.
As telecom fraud grows increasingly sophisticated, CNAP represents a structural, operator-level response—one that could reshape how Indians trust voice communication in the digital age.
