Airtel to Collect Final payment from 2021 Rights Issue

IndiaS second-largest telecom company, Bharti Airtel, will collect the final payment of about ₹15,741 crore in March 2026 from its 2021 rights issue of ₹21,000 crore. The company will use this money to pay off moast of its debt not related to the government.

The board of Airtel, which is led by Sunil Mittal, approved the “first and final call” for 392.3 million shares. These shares were offered at ₹401.25 each during a rights issue in September 2021, totaling ₹20,987.4 crore. This price includes a premium of ₹397.5 per share.

“The money from this share payment will be used mainly to pay off existing loans, including interest, and for general company needs,” Airtel said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange on thursday.

“After paying off these loans, and with the money the company makes regularly, Airtel’s India business is expected to be almost free of debt soon.The only debts remaining will be related to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and financial lease obligations. This will make Airtel’s financial position even stronger,” Airtel added.

as of September 2025, Airtel’s total debt, including lease obligations, was ₹1.94 trillion.This included ₹20,194 crore in long-term debt and ₹26,385 crore in short-term debt. the company also had ₹93,474 crore in deferred payment liabilities (payments for spectrum bought at auction) and ₹68,062 crore in lease obligations. Airtel held nearly ₹13,430 crore in cash, investments, and receivables.

Shareholders who need to pay will be identified as of February 6, 2026. The payment period will start on March 2 and end on march 16, 2026.

Airtel received ₹5,247 crore in the first part of the rights issue in October 2021.The company didn’t ask for more money from the rights issue as it had enough cash from strong profits.