Bharti Airtel Faces DoT Penalty of ₹1,16,000 for Alleged Violation of Subscriber Verification Norms

Bharti Airtel Limited has been issued a penalty notice by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The notice imposes a penalty of ₹1,16,000 on the telecom giant. 

Details of the DoT Penalty Notice 

The Department of Telecommunications, Kerala LSA, has issued a notice to Bharti Airtel, imposing a penalty of ₹1,16,000. This action follows an alleged breach of subscriber verification norms as per the company's licensing agreement. The notice was received on December 23, 2025, at 19:03 IST. 

According to the licensing terms, Bharti Airtel is required to ensure proper verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers. The DoT conducts periodic Customer Application Form (CAF) Audits to verify compliance with these terms. A recent audit for October 2025 highlighted alleged violations. 

Impact and Response from Bharti Airtel 

The financial impact of the penalty is limited to ₹1,16,000. Bharti Airtel has expressed disagreement with the order and plans to take appropriate actions for rectification or reversal. 

Read More: Bharti Airtel Leadership Change: Shashwat Sharma to Take Charge as MD & CEO of Airtel India! 

Compliance and Audit Procedures 

Under the licensing agreement, telecom companies must adhere to strict subscriber verification norms. The DoT's CAF Audit serves as a compliance check to ensure these norms are followed. The audit for October 2025 led to the current penalty notice against Bharti Airtel. 

Bharti Airtel Share Price Performance  

As of December 24, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Bharti Airtel share price on NSE was closed at ₹2,123.70 up by 0.04% from the previous closing price. 

Conclusion 

Bharti Airtel's receipt of a ₹1,16,000 penalty notice from the DoT underscores the importance of compliance with subscriber verification norms. The company plans to challenge the order, indicating its commitment to resolving the issue. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities or companies mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation or investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.