Cabinet approves a major relief package for Vodafone Idea

Vodafone Idea received a major lease of life from the Cabinet. It froze payments on AGR dues worth ₹87,695 crore and extended the repayment timeline from FY 2031-32 to FY 2040-41. The AGR dispute, unfolding since 2019, centred on telcos paying the government a share beyond just call and data revenues. This relief gives Vi much-needed breathing room to stabilise its finances, while allowing the government to protect its 49% stake and prevent a telecom duopoly.