Vodafone Idea has appointed Kumar Mangalam Birla as the Non-Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors, effective May 5, 2026. This decision follows Ravinder Takkar's request to step down from the chairman position while remaining a Non-Executive Director. Birla previously held the chairman role from August 2018 until August 2021 and returned to the board as a non-executive director in April 2023. The leadership change coincides with the Indian government's recent decision to reduce Vodafone Idea's adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues by 27%, bringing the total to ₹64,046 crore. This reduction is expected to enhance the telecom operator's ability to secure debt financing and invest in network improvements. Vodafone Idea aims to raise ₹25,000 crore through bank loans and an additional ₹10,000 crore through non-funded facilities to support a ₹45,000 crore capital expenditure program over the next three years. The revised AGR payment structure caps payments at approximately ₹1,144 crore over the next decade, shifting the financial burden to annual payments related to past spectrum purchases starting from FY27. Following the announcement, Vodafone Idea's stock closed at ₹10.8, reflecting a 2.56% increase on the Bombay Stock Exchange.