Update, 15 October 2026
From 1 November 2026, when someone calls your mobile phone from a number you have not saved, you will see the caller’s name as well as the number. This is a major change in how Indians answer calls, and it matters to every business and research organisation that reaches people by phone.
What has been announced
- Start date: 1 November 2026, across telecom service areas. Reports say the circular is dated 13 October 2026.
- What you will see: the caller’s name alongside the number. If the number is saved in your phone, your saved name appears. If it is not saved, the name comes from the telecom operator’s subscriber records, based on the KYC details given when the SIM was issued.
- Foreign calls: these are labelled “International Call”.
- Which networks: wireless networks on 4G and higher, where operators ran trials. 2G, 3G and landlines are to be considered separately.
- Privacy safeguards: operators must follow a security-by-design approach, and the caller’s name must not be retained after the call ends. Subscribers who use calling line identification restriction (CLIR) have their name withheld.
- Businesses: bulk and business connection holders may show a preferred name, but it must be a trademark registered with the Trade Marks Registry or a trade name registered on the GST portal, and the operator must verify it.
- Purpose: to help users identify incoming calls and to curb fake calls and online financial fraud.
Sources: Business Standard (15 October 2026) and Digit report on the mandate. Details are as reported and operators may issue further guidance.
ARS view: why this matters
This is our reading as a research firm, not a forecast. The evidence will come only after the rule is in force.
- Trust at the first ring. People ignore unknown numbers because they cannot tell a genuine call from a fraud. A visible name removes part of that doubt and may raise the share of calls that get answered.
- A real benefit for phone-based research. Telephone surveys, follow-up calls and customer feedback calls suffer from non-response. If a recognised organisation name appears on the screen, response rates may improve. A research firm that is easy to identify gains.
- A name is not a guarantee. The name shown is the SIM holder’s registered name, not proof of a caller’s purpose. A genuine name can still be used for an unwanted or misleading call, so people will still need to stay alert.
- Brand names need action. Companies that want their trade name to appear, rather than an individual’s name, will need a trademark or GST-registered trade name and operator verification. Businesses should check this early.
- Gaps remain. Callers using CLIR will not show a name, and older networks are not yet covered. Both will shape how well the change works in practice.
What organisations should do now
- Check which name is registered against every number your teams use to call customers, respondents and partners.
- Decide whether to apply for a preferred business name through your operator, and confirm your trademark or GST trade name is in order.
- Brief your field and calling teams, and tell respondents in advance to expect the call, for example by SMS or email.
- Track answer rates and refusals before and after 1 November so you can see the real effect.
The questions research can answer
How many people will answer an unknown call once a name appears? Will senior citizens and first-time smartphone users trust it more? Does a business name raise survey participation? These are measurable questions, and a well-designed survey across districts and respondent groups can answer them. ARS Market Research Services runs primary surveys for businesses, institutions and education platforms across India. Visit arsmrs.in to talk to us.
தமிழில் சுருக்கம்
நவம்பர் 1, 2026 முதல், உங்கள் போனில் சேமிக்கப்படாத எண்ணிலிருந்து அழைப்பு வந்தால், அழைப்பவரின் பெயரும் திரையில் தெரியும். சிம் வாங்கும்போது கொடுக்கப்பட்ட KYC விவரங்களின்படி தொலைத்தொடர்பு நிறுவனத்தின் பதிவில் உள்ள பெயர் காட்டப்படும். போலி அழைப்புகள் மற்றும் ஆன்லைன் நிதி மோசடிகளைத் தடுக்க இது உதவும் என்று கூறப்படுகிறது.