We have audited the accompanying Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements of RASHTRIYA CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS LIMITED ("the Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2025, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended March 31, 2025 and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of material accounting policies and other explanatory information (hereinafter referred to as "the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements").
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act") in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended, ("Ind AS") and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at March 31, 2025 and its profit and total Comprehensive Income, changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing specified under section 143(10) of the Act (SAs). Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) together with the independence requirements that are relevant to our audit of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the ICAI's Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements.
Emphasis of Matter
We draw attention to the following matters:
a) Note No. 46 - Property, Plant and Equipment: Title
deeds of Immovable properties:
In respect of immovable properties other than
land, i.e. building and other structures situated at its Trombay and Thal units, the Company has self- constructed properties on the land owned by the Company as evidenced by property cards/title deeds of land.
b) Note No. 48 - Gas pooling applicable to Fertilizer (Urea) sector:
The matter relating to differential claimed by GAIL on account of non-recognition of EPMC gas for the period 2021-22 in the gas pool account and the Spot gas sourced as per DOF directives during 2022-23 and the substitution of the same with cheaper market price gas specifically contracted by the Company for non-urea operations has been represented to DOF and is yet to be settled.
The Company is of the view that EPMC gas / Spot gas is specifically meant for urea operations and thus needs to be subsumed in arriving at the final pool price and the same should be considered in the subsidy of urea, since the cost of gas is a pass through.
As the non-recognition of such EPMC Gas / Spot gas sourced as per DoF's directives for Urea Operations is not in accordance with the principles of gas pooling mechanism, the Company has continued to recognize such differential i.e. (EPMC / Spot gas price - Cheaper market gas price) amounting to Rs 80.57 crore cumulatively till March 2025 ( Rs NIL for the quarter) which has been shown as receivable from DoF.
Further, Company has disputed the demand of Rs 52.18 crore raised by GAIL towards pool price differential as against receivable of Rs 71.39 crore for FY 22-23 which has been arrived at on account of non-recognition of EPMC gas/Spot gas in Urea by FICC by substituting EPMC gas/Spot gas with cheaper RLNG gas sourced for non-urea operations. The total disputed amount for the year 2022-23 stands at Rs 123.57 crore. Based on Company's representation DoF has directed GAIL to keep the demand under abeyance and the said matter is under examination by DoF. Total exposure is about to Rs.204.14 crore.
c) Note No. 50 - Price adversity and Upward/Downward Revision in CFR prices on Imported Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers
Directives have been given to Fertilizer CPSE's by Department of Fertilizers (DOF) vide letter No F.21- 01/2023-FM dated 21st September, 2023 and to the Company vide letter No. F.21-01/2023-FM dated 8th February, 2024 to ensure availability of Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers in Rabi 2023-24 and undertake such procurement on priority with the assurance that the price adversity if any on such procurements beyond applicable NBS Subsidy rates will be addressed by DOF to protect at No profit No loss basis. Further, DOF vide File Number
21-01/2023-FM-Part(1) dated 29th May 2024 have also allowed consideration of price adversity beyond applicable NBS rates to ensure No Profit No Loss for unsold inventory and sales yet to be acknowledged in POS by farmers as on 30th September, 2023. The Company has submitted its claim in respect of the above which is under process by DoF for actual sales effected. Accordingly during the nine months ended the Company has recognized such differential based on its estimates amounting to approximately Rs. 175.24 crore towards the same (Rs.Nil for current quarter) towards the price adversity.
Further, additional imports of DAP were also undertaken as per the directives of DOF with assurance vide letter no.21-01/2023-FM dated 12th June 2024 and letter no.21-2/2022-FM(PT) dated 20th August 2024 that the relevant issues will be suitably addressed. Subsequently, DoF vide letter no.23011/124/2024-P&K dated 23rd September 2024 announced an additional one-time package of Rs. 3500 PMT on DAP over and above the subsidy under NBS scheme for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st December 2024. Further, DoF vide letter no.23011/127/2024-P&K dated 1st October 2024 also notified that advantage/disadvantage on upward/downward trend in the CFR prices of shipments to DAP and other P & K fertilizers which arrive w.e.f 1st September 2024 to 31st March 2025 will be addressed vis-a-vis the benchmark rates considered under NBS. Accordingly during the year ended the Company has recognized such differential
(i.e. over and above the benchmark price) based on its estimates amounting to Rs 113.60 crore on DAP imports undertaken during 1st September 2024 to 31st March 2025.
d) Note No. 66 - Exceptional Item:
The Company had sold 16,530 sq meters of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) during the year ended 31st March, 2024 and realized a gain of Rs. 25.28 Crores which had been reported as an exceptional item for the year ended 31st March 2024 (Rs Nil during the current year).
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the above matters.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the standalone Ind AS financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
The key audit matters identified in our audit are:
1. Revenue Recognition and measurement in respect of subsidy income.
2. Estimation of Provision & Contingent Liabilities.
3. Information Technology General Control.
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Key Audit matter
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Response to Key Audit Matter
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Revenue recognition and measurement in respect to subsidy income.
Recognition of subsidy is generally made on the basis of in principle recognition/approval /settlement of claims from Government of India/Fertilizer Industry Co¬ ordination Committee while finalizing the standalone Ind AS financial statements.
During the year, Subsidy adjusted on account of the escalations/de-escalations basis for the year amounts to Rs. 247.88 Crore refundable to FICC/DOF (PY Rs. 409.39 Crore refundable).
Such adjustments have been done for escalations/de- escalations in the cost of inputs and other costs, as estimated by the management based on the prescribed norms in line with known policy parameters.
MRP of Urea being fixed by Government of India, the Company is entitled for subsidy wherein certain inputs costs are a pass through and compensation for production beyond a level of production known as Reassessed capacity is restricted to lower of Import Parity Price (IPP) of Urea plus other incidental charges which the government incurs on imported Urea, or its own concession price, as determined under extant
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Our Procedure included:
Accounting policies and principles:
We have reviewed the Companys accounting policies for Subsidy on Urea as mentioned under "Note A. Statement of Material Accounting policies III) B) Revenue Recognition" of the standalone Ind AS financial statements and the same is compared with the applicable Ind AS.
Tests of controls:
We have evaluated the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of key controls over recognition of subsidy income.
Tests of details:
We have verified the supporting documentation for determining that the subsidy was recognized in the correct accounting period and as per notified rates.
In absence of notified rates, we have verified calculation of estimated rates based on information available with the Company for such costs which are a pass through.
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Key Audit matter
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Response to Key Audit Matter
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policies for Urea. Further subsidy income is net of adjustments of recoveries towards sale/transfer for surplus ammonia or non-conversion of entire ammonia into Urea.
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In case estimation of income is based on other parameters like IPP of Urea etc. The verification of the same is based on available information in public domain.
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Since there is a time lag between actual expenditure incurred and notification of concession rates for the year, Management exercises significant judgement in arriving at the income entitlement on account of same for the year.
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Testing reasonability of assumptions based on past trends, consistency in application and changes in the same owing to change in Government policies.
Performing substantive analytical procedures: -
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Therefore, there is a risk of revenue being misstated on account of errors in estimation of concession/IPP rates yet to be notified, due to absence of notification available and change in methodology/ calculation, if any for arriving at price concession.
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Ascertainment and analysis of variations with respect of amounts estimated and actually entitled upon notification with respect to previous years.
We also assessed as to whether the disclosures in respect of revenue were adequate.
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Estimation of Provision & Contingent Liabilities
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Internal enquiry:
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In the recognition and measurement of provisions, there is uncertainty about the timing or amount of the future expenditure required to settle the liability.
In respect of contingent liabilities, there are estimates and assumptions made to determine the amount to be disclosed.
As at the year ended 31 March 2025, the amounts involved are significant. There is a high degree of judgement required for the recognition and measurement of provisions and disclosure of contingent liabilities.
There is a risk of material misstatement that the estimates are incorrect and that the provisions or contingent liabilities are materially misstated.
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We enquired of the senior management and inspected the minutes of the board and various committees of the board where relevant, for claims arising and challenged whether provisions are required.
Tests of details:
In respect of significant claims, we checked the amount of claim, nature of issues involved, management submissions and corroborated the same with external evidence, where available.
Enquiry and confirmation of lawyers:
In respect of matters which are under dispute, we have assessed opinion of the Company's in-house Legal Department / external lawyers wherever necessary.
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Information Technology Controls
A significant part of the Company's financial reporting process is heavily reliant on IT systems with automated processes and controls over the capture, storage and extraction of information. A fundamental component of these processes and controls is ensuring appropriate user access and change management protocols exist and being adhered to. These protocols are important because they ensure that access and changes to IT systems and related data are made and authorised in an appropriate manner. As our audit sought to place a high level of reliance on IT systems and application controls related to financial reporting, high proportion of the overall audit effort was in Information Technology (IT) Systems and Controls. We focused our audit on those IT systems and controls that are significant to the Company's financial reporting process.
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We focused our audit on those IT systems and controls that are significant to the Company's financial reporting process.
We assessed the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company's IT controls including those over user access and change management as well as data reliability.
In a limited number of cases, we adjusted our planned audit approach as follows:
- We extended our testing to identify whether there had been unauthorized or inappropriate access or changes made to critical IT systems and related data;
- Where automated procedures were supported by systems with identified deficiencies, we extended our procedures to identify and test alternative controls; and
- Where required, we performed a greater level of testing to validate the integrity and reliability of associated data and reporting.
Further, We have relied on provisional observations of independent consultant's past reports and the Company's replies to the observations raised by the consultants.
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Other Information
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report but does not include the standalone Ind AS financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Company's Annual report is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report.
Our opinion on the standalone Ind AS financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the standalone Ind AS financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the standalone Ind AS financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the Company's annual report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
Management and Board of Directors' Responsibilities for the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements
The Company's Management and Board of Directors are responsible for the matters stated in section 134(5) of the Companies Act, 2013 ("the Act") with respect to the preparation of these Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, the financial performance, total comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) prescribed under section 133 of the Act.
This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management
either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal financial controls relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to the standalone Ind AS 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 disclosures made by management.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the Standalone
Ind AS Financial Statements or if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify 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 Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements, including the disclosures and whether the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements that, individually or in aggregate, makes it probable that the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable user of the standalone Ind AS financial statements may be influenced. We consider quantitative 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 Ind AS financial statements.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 ("the Order") issued by the Central Government in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act, we give in "Annexure A" a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order.
2. As required by Section 143 (5) of the Act, we give in "Annexure B" the directions and sub-directions issued by the Comptroller and Auditors General of India (CAG), the action taken thereon and its impact on the accounts and the standalone Ind AS financial statements of the Company.
3. Non - Compliance of the SEBI Listing Obligation and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations, 2015 - as per Regulation 17(1)(b), the Chairman being an Executive Director, at least half of the Board of Directors should be comprised of Independent Directors including one Women Independent Director. Currently, the Company does not have required number of Independent Directors on its board. (Refer Note 42.1.3 to the standalone Ind AS Financial Statements)
4. (A) 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 for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
c) The Standalone Balance sheet, the Standalone Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), Standalone Statement of Changes in Equity and the Standalone Statement of Cash Flow dealt with by this report are in agreement with the relevant books of account.
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements comply with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under Section 133 of the Act.
e) The Company being a government company, the provision of section 164(2) is not applicable in accordance with the Notification No. GSR 463 (E) dated June 5, 2015 issued by Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Accordingly, no reporting regarding Clause 3(g) of section 143 is required.
f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to the standalone Ind AS financial statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate report in "Annexure C".
(B) 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 Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its Standalone Ind AS Financial Statements - Refer Note 42 to the Standalone Ind AS financial statements;
ii. The Company has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts;
iii. There is no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company.
iv. a) The management has represented that,
to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other persons or entities, including foreign entities ("Intermediaries"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall:
• directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") by or on behalf of the Company or
• provide any guarantee, security or the like to or on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
b) The management has represented, that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds have been received by the Company from any persons or entities, including foreign entities ("Funding Parties"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall:
• directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") by or on behalf of the Funding Party or
• provide any guarantee, security or the like from or on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries; and
c) Based on such audit procedures as considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under clause (iv) (a) and (iv) (b) contain any material mis-statement.
v. The dividend declared or paid during the year by the Company is in compliance with section 123 of the Act.
(C) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report as per section 197 (16) of the Act:
In accordance with requirements of section 197 (16) of the act as amended: As per notification number G.S.R. 463 (E) dated June 5, 2015 issued by Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Section 197 of the Act as regards the managerial remuneration is not applicable to the Company, since it is a Government Company.
(D) Based on our examination which included test checks, the Company has used an SAP HANA software for maintaining its books of account which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the software. Further, during the course of audit we did not come across any instance of audit trail feature being tampered with. [Additionally, the audit trail has been preserved by the Company as per the statutory requirements for record retention.]
For K. Gopal Rao & Co For Parakh & Co.
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
FRN : 000956S FRN : 001475C
Gopal Krishna Raju Shalabh Jain
Partner Partner
M. No.: 205929 M. No.: 441015
UDIN: 25205929BMLDMO8242 UDIN: 25441015BMOGES9505
Place: Mumbai Date: 27th May, 2025
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