Bharti Airtel has formally requested the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to convert approximately ₹41,000 crore of its AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) dues—including accrued interest—into government equity, citing parity after Vodafone Idea received similar relief under the 2021 telecom reforms . However, the Union Finance Ministry has expressed reluctance, advising Airtel to pursue legal channels instead of equity conversion . DoT officials emphasized that any such conversion won’t be automatic; the proposal will undergo thorough scrutiny before any decision is made . Meanwhile, Airtel has clarified that this move is exploratory—its board has yet to decide on actual conversion—but it seeks confirmation of the option to maintain a level playing field . With its moratorium ending and repayments looming, Airtel is leveraging this equity conversion route to alleviate debt and shore up funds for infrastructure investment .

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