Bharti Airtel Limited has disclosed receiving penalty notices from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) totaling ₹8.34 lakh for alleged violations of subscriber verification norms. The telecommunications major received two separate notices on April 08, 2026, under its regulatory disclosure obligations.

Penalty Details

The company received notices from two DoT circles with varying penalty amounts and response strategies:

Nature of Violations

Both penalty notices relate to alleged violations of subscriber verification norms during Customer Application Form (CAF) audits. Under the licensing agreement, Bharti Airtel is required to:

• Ensure adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers
• Comply with instructions issued by DoT regarding subscriber verification
• Maintain compliance with licensing terms and conditions during periodic CAF audits

The DoT conducts these periodic audits to confirm telecom operators' compliance with subscriber verification requirements.

Company Response Strategy

Bharti Airtel has adopted different approaches for the two penalty notices. For the Assam circle penalty of ₹6.32 lakh, the company stated it "does not agree with the Notice and will take appropriate action(s) for rectification/reversal of the same." However, for the Karnataka circle penalty of ₹2.02 lakh, the company "has opted not to contest and pay the penalty."

Financial Impact

The company disclosed that the maximum financial impact is limited to the extent of the penalties levied. The total penalty amount of ₹8.34 lakh represents the quantifiable monetary impact on the company's operations.

Regulatory Compliance

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Rohit Krishan Puri signed the disclosure on April 09, 2026, confirming that the information provided is true, correct, and complete to the best of the company's knowledge and belief.

Bharti Airtel Limited has received a penalty notice of Rs 1,04,000 from the Department of Telecommunications for alleged violation of subscriber verification norms. The telecommunications major disclosed this development under Regulation 30 of SEBI Listing Regulations on April 08, 2026.

Penalty Details and Background

The penalty notice was issued by the Department of Telecommunications, Maharashtra LSA following a Customer Application Form (CAF) audit conducted for December 2025. The regulatory authority alleged violations of subscriber verification norms under the company's License Agreement.

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

Under the terms of its License Agreement, Bharti Airtel is required to ensure adequate verification of customers before enrolling them as subscribers and comply with instructions issued by DoT in this regard. The Department of Telecommunications conducts periodic Customer Application Form audits to confirm compliance with licensing terms and conditions.

The CAF audit process is designed to verify that telecommunications operators maintain proper documentation and follow prescribed procedures for customer onboarding and verification.

Company's Response and Financial Impact

Bharti Airtel has decided not to contest the penalty and will pay the imposed amount of Rs 1,04,000. The company stated that the maximum financial impact is limited to the extent of the penalty levied.

Disclosure Compliance

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 read with Clause 20 of Para A of Part A of Schedule III of SEBI Listing Regulations. Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Rohit Krishan Puri signed the disclosure document, confirming that the information provided is true, correct and complete to the best of the company's knowledge and belief.

This penalty represents a routine regulatory matter for the telecommunications operator, with the financial impact being minimal given the company's scale of operations.