We have jointly audited the accompanying financial statementsof UTKARSH SMALL FINANCE BANK LIMITED (the Bank"),which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2025, Profitand Loss Account, the Cash Flow Statement for the year thenended, and a summary of significant accounting policies andother explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according tothe explanations given to us, the aforesaid financial statementsgive the information required by the Banking Regulation Act,1949 and the Companies Act, 2013 (the “Act”) in the mannerso required and give a true and fair view in conformity with theAccounting Standards prescribed under section 133 of the Act(“Accounting Standards”) as applicable to the Bank, the relevantcirculars, guidelines and directions issued by the Reserve Bankof India (“RBI”) from time to time and other accounting principlesgenerally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Bank as atMarch 31,2025, and its profit and its cash flows for the year endedon that date.
We conducted our audit of the financial statements in accordancewith the Standards on Auditing (“SA”s) specified under section
143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standardsare further described in the Auditor’s Responsibility for theAudit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We areindependent of the Bank in accordance with the Code of Ethicsissued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (“ICAI”)together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to ouraudit of the financial statements under the provisions of the Actand the Rules made thereunder, and we have fulfilled our otherethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirementsand the ICAI’s Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidenceobtained by us is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis forour audit opinion on the financial statements.
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professionaljudgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financialstatements of the current period. These matters were addressedin the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole,and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide aseparate opinion on these matters. We have determined thematters described below to be the key audit matters to becommunicated in our report.
Sr. No.
Key Audit Matter
Auditor’s Response
1. Identification of and Provisioning against Non-performing Assets (“NPAs”):
Total Loans and Advances (Net of Provision) as at March 31, 2025: Rs. 18,71,648 LakhsProvision for NPAs as at March 31, 2025: Rs. 94,910 Lakhs
Refer Schedule 9, Schedule 17(B)(c) and Schedule 18.4.1
Advances constitute a significant portion of the Bank’s assets andthe quality of these advances is measured in terms of ratio of NPA tothe gross advances of the Bank.
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.
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.
Our audit approach included testing the design, operatingeffectiveness of internal controls and substantive auditprocedures in respect of income recognition, asset classificationand provisioning. In particular:
• We have evaluated and understood the Bank’s internalcontrol system in adhering to the RBI guidelines;
• We have analysed and understood key IT systems/applications used and tested the design and implementationas well as operational effectiveness of relevant controlsin relation to income recognition, asset classification, viz.,standard, sub-standard, doubtful and loss with reference toRBI guidelines and provisioning pertaining to advances;
• We test checked advances to examine the validity andaccuracy of the recorded amounts, impairment provision forNPAs, recognition of floating asset provision based on boardapproved policy and its utilisation based on RBI’s approval, incompliance with IRAC norms and other RBI Guidelines.
Information Technology (‘IT’) Systems and Controls impacting Financial Reporting
As a Scheduled Commercial Bank that operates on core bankingsolution (“CBS”) and other applications across its branches, thereliability and security of 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 process dataas expected and that changes are made in an appropriate manner.
The IT infrastructure is critical for smooth functioning of the Bank’sbusiness operations as well as for timely and accurate financialaccounting and reporting.
Due to the pervasive nature and complexity of the IT environmentwe have ascertained Key Information technology (“IT”) systemsused in financial reporting process as a key audit matter.
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 systemsthat are critical for accounting and financial reporting processand are relevant for our audit and tested their internal controls. Inparticular:
• We obtained an understanding of the Bank’s IT controlenvironment and key changes during the audit period thatmay be relevant to the audit;
• We tested the design, implementation and operatingeffectiveness of the Bank’s General IT controls over the keyIT systems that are critical to financial reporting. This includedevaluation of Bank’s controls to evaluate segregation ofduties and access rights being provisioned / modified basedon duly approved requests, access for exit cases beingrevoked in a timely manner and access of all users beingrecertified during the period of audit;
• We tested key automated and manual business cyclecontrols and logic for system generated reports relevant tothe audit; and
• We also tested compensating controls and performedalternate procedures to assess whether there were anyunaddressed IT risks that would materially impact thefinancial statements.
Ý The Bank’s Board of Directors is responsible for thepreparation of the other information. The other informationcomprises the Chairman’s Statement, the Directors Reportincluding annexures to the Directors report included in theAnnual Report but does not include the financial statementsand our auditors report thereon and the Basel II Disclosuresunder New Capital Adequacy Framework (Basel IIDisclosures).
Ý Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover theother information and Basel II Disclosures and we do notexpress any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Ý In connection with our audit of the financial statements, ourresponsibility is to read the other information and, in doingso, consider whether the other information is materiallyinconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledgeobtained during the course of our audit or otherwise appearsto be materially misstated.
Ý If, based on the work we have performed on the otherinformation that we obtained prior to the date of this auditor’sreport, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of
this other information, we are required to report that fact. Wehave nothing to report in this regard.
The Bank’s Board of Directors is responsible for the mattersstated in section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparationof these financial statements that give a true and fair view ofthe financial position, financial performance and cash flows ofthe Bank in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 ofthe Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Accounting Standards andother accounting principles generally accepted in India and thecirculars, guidelines and the directions issued by RBI, from time totime. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequateaccounting records in accordance with the provisions of theAct for safeguarding the assets of the Bank and for preventingand detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection andapplication of appropriate accounting policies; making judgmentsand estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design,implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financialcontrols, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracyand completeness of the accounting records, relevant to thepreparation and presentation of the financial statements that
give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement,whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management and Boardof Directors are responsible for assessing the Bank’s ability tocontinue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, mattersrelated to going concern and using the going concern basis ofaccounting unless the Board of Directors either intend to liquidatethe Bank or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative butto do so.
The Bank’s Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeingthe Bank’s financial reporting process.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance aboutwhether the financial statements as a whole are free frommaterial misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and toissue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonableassurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee thatan audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect amaterial misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arisefrom fraud or error and are considered material if, individually orin the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influencethe economic decisions of users taken on the basis of thesefinancial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exerciseprofessional judgment and maintain professional skepticismthroughout the audit. We also:
Ý Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of thefinancial statements, whether due to fraud or error, designand perform audit procedures responsive to those risks,and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriateto provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detectinga material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher thanfor one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion,forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or theoverride of internal control.
Ý Obtain an understanding of internal financial controlsrelevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures thatare appropriate in the circumstance. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing ouropinion on whether the Bank has adequate internal financialcontrols with reference to financial statements in place andthe operating effectiveness of such controls.
Ý Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies usedand the reasonableness of accounting estimates and relateddisclosures made by the management.
Ý Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use ofthe going concern basis of accounting and, based on theaudit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertaintyexists related to events or conditions that may cast significantdoubt on the Bank’s ability to continue as a going concern.
If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we arerequired to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the relateddisclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosuresare inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions arebased on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of ourauditor’s report. However, future events or conditions maycause the Bank to cease to continue as a going concern.
Ý Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and contentof the financial statements, including the disclosures, andwhether the financial statements represent the underlyingtransactions and events in a manner that achievesfair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the financialstatements that, individually or in aggregate, makes it probablethat the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeableuser of the financial statements may be influenced. We considerquantitative materiality and qualitative factors in (i) planning thescope of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work;and (ii) to evaluate the effect of any identified misstatements in thefinancial statements.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding,among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the auditand significant audit findings, including any significant deficienciesin internal financial controls that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statementthat we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regardingindependence, and to communicate with them all relationshipsand other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on ourindependence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged withgovernance, we determine those matters that were of mostsignificance in the audit of the financial statements of the currentperiod and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe thesematters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludespublic disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rarecircumstances, we determine that a matter should not becommunicated in our report because the adverse consequencesof doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the publicinterest benefits of such communication.
1. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, and Section 30(3)of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, based on our audit wereport, that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information andexplanations which to the best of our knowledge andbelief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion, the transactions of the Bank which havecome to our notice have been within the powers ofthe bank.
c) As explained in the paragraph 2 below, the financialaccounting system of the Bank are centralised and,therefore, accounting returns are not required to besubmitted by branches.
d) In our opinion, proper books of account as required bylaw have been kept by the Bank so far as it appears fromour examination of those books.
e) The Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and theCash Flow Statement dealt with by this Report are inagreement with the relevant books of account.
f) In our opinion, the aforesaid financial statements complywith the Accounting Standards specified under Section133 of the Act as applicable to the Banks.
g) On the basis of the written representations receivedfrom the directors as on March 31, 2025 taken onrecord by the Board of Directors, none of the directors isdisqualified as on March 31, 2025 from being appointedas a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
h) With respect to the maintenance of accounts and othermatters connected therewith, reference is made to ourremarks in paragraph 1(b) above on reporting underSection 143(3)(b) and paragraph 1(k)(vi) below onreporting under Rule 11(g) of the Rules;
i) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financialcontrols with reference to financial statements of theBank and the operating effectiveness of such controls,refer to our separate Report in “Annexure A”. Our reportexpresses an unmodified opinion on the adequacy andoperating effectiveness of the Bank’s internal financialcontrols with reference to financial statements.
j) With respect to the other matters to be included in theAuditor’s Report in accordance with the requirementsof section 197(16) of the Act, as amended, in our opinionand to the best of our information and according to theexplanations given to us, the entity being a bankingcompany, section 197 of the Act related to the managerialremuneration is not applicable by virtue of Section35B(2A) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
k) With respect to the other matters to be included inthe Auditor’s Report in accordance with Rule 11 ofthe Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, asamended in our opinion and to the best of our informationand according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Bank has disclosed the impact of pendinglitigations on its financial position in itsfinancial statements - Refer Schedule 12 to thefinancial statements;
ii. The Bank did not have any long-term contractsincluding derivative contracts for which there wereany material foreseeable losses.
iii. There were no amounts which were required to betransferred to the Investor Education and ProtectionFund by the Bank.
iv. (a) The Management has represented that, to the
best of its knowledge and belief, as disclosed inthe Schedule 18.28 to the financial statementsno funds have been advanced or loanedor invested (either from borrowed funds orshare premium or any other sources or kind offunds) 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, thatthe Intermediary shall, directly or indirectly lendor invest in other persons or entities identified inany manner whatsoever by or on behalf of theBank (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide anyguarantee, security or the like on behalf of theUltimate Beneficiaries.
(b) The Management has represented, that,to the best of its knowledge and belief, asdisclosed in the Schedule 18.28 to the financialstatements, no funds have been received bythe Bank from any person(s) or entity(ies),including foreign entities (“Funding Parties”),with the understanding, whether recordedin writing or otherwise, that the Bank shall,directly or indirectly, lend or invest in otherpersons or entities identified in any mannerwhatsoever by or on behalf of the FundingParty (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide anyguarantee, security or the like on behalf of theUltimate Beneficiaries.
(c) Based on the audit procedures performedthat have been considered reasonable andappropriate in the circumstances, nothing hascome to our notice that has caused us to believethat the representations under sub-clause (i)and (ii) of Rule 11(e), as provided under (a) and(b) above, contain any material misstatement.
v. The final dividend proposed in the previous year,declared and paid by the Bank during the yearis in accordance with section 123 of the Act,as applicable.
vi. Based on our examination, which included testchecks, the Bank has used accounting softwaresystems for maintaining its books of account forthe financial year ended March 31, 2025 which havethe feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facilityand the same has operated throughout the year forall relevant transactions recorded in the softwaresystems. Further, during the course of our audit wedid not come across any instance of the audit trail
feature being tampered with and the audit trail hasbeen preserved by the Bank as per the statutoryrequirements for record retention.
2. We report that during the course of our audit we havevisited and performed select relevant procedures at 40
branches. Since the Bank considers its key operations to beautomated, with the key applications largely integrated tothe Core Banking System, it does not require its branches tosubmit any financial returns. Accordingly our audit is carriedout centrally at Head Office based on the records and datarequired for the purpose of Audit being made available to us.
For Deloitte Haskins & Sells For Kirtane & Pandit LLP
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
(Firm Registration No. 117365W) (Firm Registration No.105215W/W100057)
G. K. Subramaniam Sandeep Welling
Partner Partner
Membership No. 109839 Membership No. 044576
UDIN: 25109839BMOFVH3118 UDIN: 25044576BMKQXS3892
Place: Mumbai Place: Mumbai
Date: May 03, 2025 Date: May 03, 2025