No AGR Relief for Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices; DoT Enforces ₹10,000 Crore Payment by March 31, 2026

Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices are due to pay nearly ₹10,000 crore in adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues by March 31, as per news reports. The payment follows a Supreme Court order, making the timeline binding on operators.  

Reports suggest that any delay or non-payment would be treated as contempt of court. The instalment is part of the repayment cycle that began after the end of the moratorium period. 

No Extension Beyond Court Order 

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has indicated that there will be no relaxation for these companies.  

Airtel had written to the department seeking a reassessment of its dues, including possible calculation errors, but the request was not accepted.  

Additionally, officials maintained that any relief similar to Vodafone Idea would require approval from the Supreme Court. No such request has been filed so far. 

Vodafone Idea Treated Separately 

Relief granted to Vodafone Idea remains limited to that company. In December 2025, the government fixed its AGR dues at ₹87,695 crore and allowed repayments over 16 years, with major payments starting after a decade.  

The Centre holds a 49% stake in the company. A separate review of its dues is also in progress, which may reduce the final payable amount. 

Amounts Payable and Recent Payments 

Bharti Airtel is required to pay over ₹5,000 crore in the current instalment, while Tata Teleservices has to pay more than ₹4,000 crore. These figures may increase due to accumulated interest. 

Ahead of the deadline, Airtel has paid over ₹9,000 crore, and Tata Teleservices around ₹4,170 crore.  

Together, the payments exceed ₹13,000 crore. Both companies have previously made partial payments, but a significant portion of dues remains outstanding. 

Background of AGR Dues 

The dues stem from a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that widened the definition of AGR to include non-telecom revenue.  

Following this, telecom operators were given a 4-year moratorium starting September 2021 to defer payments. The moratorium ended in 2025, with companies required to pay annual instalments until 2031. 

As of December 2025, Airtel’s AGR dues stood at over ₹51,000 crore, while Tata Group entities owed more than ₹20,000 crore. Interest, penalties and related charges continue to add to the total. 

Read More: Telecom Industry Gross Revenue Surpasses ₹1 Lakh Crore in Q3; AGR Reaches ₹84,270 Crore! 

Conclusion 

With no additional relief extended, both operators are making payments as required under the Supreme Court order. The existing AGR framework continues to guide instalments through the scheduled period. 

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