In a serious reduction for Indian telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Concept (Vi), the central authorities might slash their Adjusted Gross Income (AGR) dues. The Prime Minister’s Workplace (PMO) has reviewed the most recent proposal from the Division of Telecommunications (DoT) on AGR reduction, NDTV Revenue reported on Friday, August 22, 2025, citing sources.
Vodafone Concept’s Dues and Authorities Stake
If authorised, Vodafone Concept’s AGR dues are more likely to be lowered to Rs 28,000 crore from Rs 83,400 crore, in line with the report. The federal government had beforehand transformed a part of the corporate’s dues into fairness. Following the conversion of excellent spectrum public sale dues into fairness, the Indian authorities’s stake in Vodafone Concept has risen to just about 49 %. The Aditya Birla Group holds a 9.50 % stake, and the UK’s Vodafone Group holds 16.07 %, taking the whole promoter holding to 25.57 %, in line with a latest submitting.
In the meantime, Airtel’s AGR dues will seemingly be lowered to Rs 10,000 crore from Rs 42,000 crore, the report stated, citing sources.
Shares Bounce on Aid Buzz
Shares of Vodafone Concept jumped on August 22, 2025, after an early morning report revealed at 6 am on Friday urged that the PMO is ready to determine on a reduction proposal for the telecom main.
The PMO has acquired a proposal from the telecom division to regular Vodafone Concept Ltd, stated two officers conscious of the matter, because the service has repeatedly cited upcoming funds in opposition to pending dues as a menace to its survival, LiveMint reported.
DoT Suggests A number of Aid Choices
In an off-the-cuff be aware to the PMO final month, the DoT has proposed “a number of reduction choices”, together with an additional two-year pause on paying the statutory dues underneath moratorium at present, one of many two officers cited within the report stated. The PMO will take the ultimate choice on whether or not any reduction measures must be prolonged, the particular person added.
Vodafone Concept’s Battle With Debt
Vodafone Concept has been battling dues, owing about Rs 83,400 crore in adjusted gross income (AGR) dues, with annual funds of almost Rs 18,000 crore scheduled from March 2025. Its total dues to the federal government stand at round Rs 2 trillion, together with penalty and curiosity, Mint stated.
The operator has repeatedly warned it can not survive with out funding help, as banks stay reluctant to lend attributable to its monetary stress. Vodafone Concept is exploring non-bank funding avenues for its capital expenditure plans, as negotiations with lenders stay stalled amid uncertainty over AGR dues, outgoing CEO Akshaya Moondra stated on August 18 throughout the June quarter earnings name.
