1. We have audited the accompanying standalone financial statements of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (the ‘Bank’), which comprise theStandalone Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025, the Standalone Profit and Loss Account, and the Standalone Cash Flow Statement for theyear ended 31 March 2025, and notes to the standalone financial statements including a summary of the significant accounting policiesand other explanatory information (the ‘Standalone Financial Statements’).
2. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid Standalone FinancialStatements give the information required by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Companies Act, 2013 (the ‘Act’) and the circulars,guidelines and directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India (the ‘RBI’) from time to time (the ‘RBI guidelines’), in the manner so requiredfor banking companies and give a true and fair view, in conformity with the Accounting Standards prescribed under section 133 of the Act,read with the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2021 as applicable to banks and other accounting principles generally acceptedin India, of the state of affairs of the Bank as at 31 March 2025 and its profit and its cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2025.
3. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (‘SAs’) specified under section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilitiesunder those standards are further described in the ‘Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements’ sectionof our report. We are independent of the Bank in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India(‘ICAI’) together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements under the provisionsof the Act and the Rules thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and theCode of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion on theStandalone Financial Statements.
4. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the Standalone FinancialStatements of the current year. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements as awhole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
5. We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report.
Total Loans and Advances (Net of Provision) as at March 31, 2025: H 426,909.20 Crores
Provision for NPAs as at March 31, 2025: H 4,790.41 Crores
Refer Schedule 9, Schedule 17(C)(2) and Schedule 18(A), note 11 and note 13
Key audit matter
How our audit addressed the key audit matter
The Bank is required to comply with the Master Circular issued bythe Reserve Bank of India (‘RBI’) on ‘Prudential Norms for IncomeRecognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertainingto Advances’ (the’ IRAC norms’) and amendments thereto (“RBIguidelines”) which prescribes the norms for identification andclassification of Non-performing Assets (‘NPAs’) and the minimumprovision required for such assets.
The Bank is also required to apply its judgement to determine theidentification and provision required against NPAs consideringvarious quantitative as well as qualitative factors.
Our audit approach included testing the design, operatingeffectiveness of internal controls and substantive audit proceduresin respect of income recognition, asset classification andprovisioning pertaining to advances. In particular:
• We have evaluated and understood the Bank’s internal controlsystem in adhering to the RBI guidelines;
• We have analysed and understood key IT systems/ applicationsused and tested the design and implementation andoperational effectiveness of relevant controls in relationto income recognition, asset classification, viz., standard,sub-standard, doubtful and loss with reference to RBI guidelinesand provisioning pertaining to advances; and
As the identification of and provisioning against NPAs requiresconsiderable level of management estimation, application ofvarious regulatory requirements and its significance to the overallaudit due to stakeholder and regulatory focus, we have identifiedthis as a key audit matter.
• We test checked advances to examine the validity and accuracyof the recorded amounts, impairment provision for NPAs, andcompliance with IRAC norms of RBI guidelines.
Information Technology (‘IT’) Systems and Controls impacting Financial Reporting
As the Bank operates on core banking solution across its branchesand asset centres, the reliability and security of Informationtechnology (“IT”) systems plays a key role in the businessoperations. Since large volume of transactions are processed daily,the IT controls are required to ensure that applications processdata as expected and that changes are made in an appropriatemanner.
IT infrastructure is critical for smooth functioning and accurateaccounting and financial reporting process.
In assessing the controls over the IT systems of the Bank, weinvolved our technology specialists to understand the IT controlenvironment, IT infrastructure and IT systems.
We conducted an assessment and identified key IT systems thatare critical for accounting and financial reporting process and arerelevant for our audit and tested their internal controls. In particular:
• We obtained an understanding of the Bank’s IT controlenvironment and key changes during the audit period that maybe relevant to the audit;
Due to the pervasive nature and complexity of the IT environment,we have ascertained key IT systems used in financial reportingprocess and its related controls as a key audit matter.
• We tested the design, implementation and operatingeffectiveness of the Bank’s General IT controls over the key ITsystems that are critical to accounting and financial reporting.This included evaluation of Bank’s controls for user accessmanagement, program change management, databasemanagement, network operations, incident managementand other IT operations performed by the Bank during theperiod of audit;
• We tested key automated and manual business cycle controlsand logic for system generated reports relevant to the audit; and
• We also tested compensating controls and performed alternateprocedures to assess whether there were any unaddressed ITrisks that would materially impact the financial statements.
6. The Bank’s Board of Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in theAnnual Report but does not include the standalone financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Annual Report is expectedto be made available to us after the date of this auditor’s report.
Our opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements does not cover the other information and we will not express any form of assuranceconclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified abovewhen it becomes available and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the StandaloneFinancial Statements or knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the Annual Report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matterto those charged with governance and take appropriate action as applicable under the relevant laws and regulations.
7. The accompanying Standalone Financial Statements have been approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors. The Bank’s Board of Directorsare responsible for the matters stated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation and presentation of these StandaloneFinancial Statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of the Bank in accordancewith the Accounting Standards specified under section 133 of the Act, read with the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2021 asapplicable to banks, and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, and provisions of Section 29 of the Banking RegulationAct, 1949 and the RBI guidelines . This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance withthe provisions of the Act, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the RBI guidelines for safeguarding of the assets of the Bank and forpreventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgmentsand estimates that are reasonable and prudent; selection of the appropriate accounting software for ensuring compliance with applicablelaws and regulations including those related to retention of audit logs; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequateinternal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevantto the preparation and presentation of the Standalone Financial Statements that give a true and fair view and are free from materialmisstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
8. In preparing the Standalone Financial Statements, the Board of Directors are responsible for assessing the Bank’s ability to continue asa going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless theBoard of Directors either intend to liquidate the Bank or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
9. The Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Bank’s financial reporting process.
10. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Standalone Financial statements as a whole are free from materialmisstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a highlevel of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement whenit exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonablybe expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Standalone Financial Statements.
11. As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout theaudit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the Standalone Financial Statements, whether due to fraud or error, designand perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide abasis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting fromerror, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control;
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in thecircumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Bank has adequateinternal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls;
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosuresmade by the management;
• Conclude on the appropriateness of the management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the auditevidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on theBank’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attentionin our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the Standalone Financial Statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, tomodify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However,future events or conditions may cause the Bank to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the Standalone Financial Statements, including the disclosures, and whetherthe Standalone Financial Statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the Standalone Financial Statements that, individually or in aggregate, makes it probablethat the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable user of the Standalone Financial Statements may be influenced. We considerquantitative materiality and qualitative factors in (i) planning the scope of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work; and (ii)to evaluate the effect of any identified misstatements in the Standalone Financial Statements.
12. We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit andsignificant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
13. We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regardingindependence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on ourindependence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
14. From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in theaudit of the Standalone Financial Statements of the current year and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters inour auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, wedetermine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably beexpected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
The Standalone Financial Statements of the Bank for the year ended 31 March 2024, were jointly audited by M/s Price Waterhouse LLP and KKC& Associates LLP (formerly Khimji Kunverji & Co LLP) vide their report dated 4 May 2024, expressed an unmodified opinion on those StandaloneFinancial Statements. Accordingly, Deloitte Haskins & Sells does not express any opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements for the yearended 31 March 2024.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
15. In our opinion, the Balance Sheet and the Profit and Loss Account have been drawn up in accordance with the provisions of section 29 ofthe Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and section 133 of the Act and the relevant rules issued thereunder.
16. As required by sub-section (3) of section 30 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, we report that:
a) We have obtained all the information and explanations which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, were necessary for thepurpose of our audit and have found them to be satisfactory;
b) The transactions of the Bank, which have come to our notice during the course of our audit, have been within the powers of the Bank;
c) Since the key operations of the Bank are automated with the key applications integrated to the core banking system, the audit iscarried out centrally as all the necessary records and data required for the purposes of our audit are available therein. We havevisited 80 branches to examine the records maintained at the branches for the purpose of our audit.
17. In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the provisions of Section 197 of the Actare not applicable to the Bank by virtue of Section 35B(2A) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Accordingly, the reporting under Section197(16) of the Act regarding payment/ provision for managerial remuneration in accordance with the requisite approvals mandated by theprovisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V to the Act, is not applicable.
18. As required by section 143 (3) of the Act, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary forthe purpose of our audit;
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Bank so far as it appears from our examinationof those books;
c) The Standalone Balance Sheet, the Standalone Profit and Loss Account and the Standalone Cash Flow Statement dealt with by thisreport are in agreement with the books of account;
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements comply with the Accounting Standards specified under section133 of the Act read with relevant Rules issued thereunder, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the accounting policiesprescribed by the RBI;
e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors and taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of thedirectors is disqualified as on 31 March 2025 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act;
f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements of the Bank
and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in Annexure A, wherein we have expressed an
unmodified opinion; and
g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor’s Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and
Auditors) Rules, 2014 (as amended), in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Bank has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position as at the year end in its Standalone FinancialStatements - Refer Schedule 12 (I), Schedule 17C - Note 13 and Schedule 18B Note 14 to the Standalone Financial Statements;
ii. The Bank has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, ifany, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts - Refer Schedule 12 (II), 12 (Va) and 12 (Vb), Schedule 17C - Note 10,Note 11 and Note 13 and Schedule 18A - Note 9 and Note 10 to the Standalone Financial Statements;
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund bythe Bank, during the year ended 31 March 2025;
iv. a. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in Schedule 18B - Note 16
to the Standalone Financial Statements, no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowedfunds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Bank to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities (‘Intermediaries’), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that theIntermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any mannerwhatsoever by or on behalf of the Bank (‘Ultimate Beneficiaries’) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalfthe Ultimate Beneficiaries;
b. The management has represented that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed in Schedule 18B - Note16 to the Standalone Financial Statements, no funds have been received by the Bank from any person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities (’’Funding Parties”), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that theBank shall, whether directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoeverby or on behalf of the Funding Party (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf ofthe Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
c. Based on such audit procedures performed, as considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing hascome to our attention that causes us to believe that the management representations under sub-clauses (i) and (ii) ofRule 11(e), as provided under (a) and (b) above contain any material misstatement.
v. The dividend declared and paid during the year ended 31 March 2025 by the Bank is in compliance with Section 123 of the Act.
vi. Based on our examination, which included test checks, the Bank has used accounting softwares for maintaining its books ofaccount for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 which have the feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and thesame has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the softwares. Further, during the courseof our audit we did not come across any instance of the audit trail feature being tampered with and the audit trail has beenpreserved as per as the statutory requirements for record retention, since enabled.
For Deloitte Haskins & Sells For KKC & Associates LLP
Chartered Accountants (formerly Khimji Kunverji & Co LLP)
(Firm Registration No.: 117365W) Chartered Accountants
(Firm Registration No.: 105146W/W100621)
G. K. Subramaniam Gautam Shah
Partner Partner
Membership No.: 109839 Membership No.: 117348
UDIN: 25109839BMOFVC3420 UDIN: 25117348BMOBCH2344
Place: Mumbai Place: Mumbai
Date: 3 May 2025 Date: 3 May 2025