Scindia says Centre will study SC order before deciding on Vodafone Idea AGR relief

India’s telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the government has not yet received the Supreme Court’s written order on Vodafone Idea’s adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues case and will evaluate its implications before taking any policy call.

Speaking off-camera to CNBC-TV18, Scindia said the Centre will "need to study the order to understand the implications" and would "wait for Vodafone Idea to apply for seeking relief."

The comments come a day after the Supreme Court signalled a major shift in the long-running AGR dispute, saying it sees no impediment in the Centre reconsidering the issue—particularly given its 49% equity stake in Vodafone Idea and the potential fallout for 200 million customers.

The order, which is yet to be published, held that AGR resolution lies within the government’s policy domain and left the matter open for the Centre to craft a solution. This has fuelled optimism for the distressed telecom operator’s survival prospects.

The Centre has previously resisted further concessions after a 2021 rescue plan that converted ₹53,000 crore of dues into equity.

The Solicitor General had earlier told the court that circumstances have changed significantly and that consumer interests and market competition are at stake if the company falters.

Vodafone Idea has challenged an additional AGR demand of ₹9,450 crore, arguing errors and duplication in the calculation and seeking fresh reconciliation.Read about our editorial guidelines and ethics policy