Bharti Airtel awaits DoT response on AGR parity request: Gopal Vittal

Bharti Airtel awaits DoT response on AGR parity request : Gopal Vittal

• Airtel awaits DoT response on AGR dues parity and clarification requests
• Company seeks equal treatment and correction of computation errors in AGR dues
• Airtel's deferred AGR payment liability is Rs 38,604 crore as per FY25 report

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Bharti Airtel is still awaiting a response from the government on its request seeking clarity over the treatment of its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, with Executive Vice Chairman Gopal Vittal stating that the company has formally written a couple of letters to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requesting parity in the handling of these liabilities.

Responding to analysts’ queries on AGR during the Q3 earnings call, Vittal said the telecom operator has already sent multiple letters to the DoT seeking clarification and equal treatment on the dues issue. He added that the company will decide its next course of action only after receiving a response from the department.

“We have written a few letters to the DoT asking for clarification and basically requesting parity on the treatment of the AGR dues. We are yet to hear from the DoT. Once we hear from them, we will then decide what our next steps are,” Vittal said.

While Vittal did not elaborate on the specifics of the relief or parity being sought, his remarks indicate that Airtel is closely monitoring any policy or administrative developments related to AGR liabilities and is seeking consistency in the government’s approach across operators.

“…currently we have asked for treatment on parity, and there are many areas which warrant correction. One of these, for example, relates to computation errors — arithmetical mistakes, errors of commission and omission. These are areas we have written to the DoT about, seeking an assessment based on parity and in line with the Supreme Court ruling.”

The comments come after the Union Cabinet last month froze Vodafone Idea’s AGR dues at Rs 87,695 crore as of December 31, 2025, and approved a staggered repayment schedule allowing the telco to clear the outstanding amount between FY32 and FY41. Last week, the Department of Telecommunications initiated a reassessment of Vodafone Idea’s AGR dues for the period from FY07 to FY19.

The reassessment follows Supreme Court rulings in October and November that permitted the government to revisit and recalculate the company’s AGR liabilities.

Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel’s deferred payment liability towards AGR stood at Rs 38,604 crore, according to its FY25 annual report.