INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
To
The Members of
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Ind-AS Financial Statements Qualified Opinion
We have audited the accompanying standalone Ind-AS financial statements of MAHANAGAR TELEPHONE NIGAM LIMITED ("the Company"), which comprise the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2023, the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended, and notes to financial statements, including a summary of the significant 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, except for the effects of the matters described in the basis for Qualified Opinion Section of our report, 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, 2023, net loss, changes in equity and its cash flows for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Qualified 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 ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the standalone Ind AS financial statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made there under, 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 qualified audit opinion on the standalone Ind AS financial statements.
(i) The Net Worth of the Company has been fully eroded; The Company has incurred net cash loss during the year ended March 31st, 2023, as well as in the previous year and the current liabilities exceeded the current assets substantially.
Furthermore, Department of Public Enterprises vide its Office Memorandum No. DPE/5(1)/2014-Fin. (Part-IX-A) has classified the status of the Company as "Incipient Sick CPSE". Department of Telecommunication (DOT) has also confirmed the status vide its issue no. I/3000697/ 2017 through file no. 19-17/2017 - SU-II.
However, the standalone Ind AS financial statements of the Company have been prepared on a going concern basis keeping in view the majority stake of the Government of India.
Further, Union Cabinet has also approved the "Revival plan of BSNL and MTNL" by reducing employee costs, administrative allotment of spectrum for 4G services, debt restructuring by raising of sovereign guaranteed bonds, monetization of assets and in principle approval for merger of BSNL and MTNL. Further, the Company had implemented the Voluntary Retirement Scheme in FY 2019-20 resulted into reduction in Employees Cost and raised funds by issuing Bonds for ? 6,500 crore in FY 2020-21 in line with cabinet note. Recently, as per F.NO.20-28/2022-PR dated 2nd August 2022, the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 27.07.2022 has approved the raising of Sovereign guaranteed bonds for MTNL with a tenure of 10 years or more for an amount of Rs. 17,571 crores in two calendar years i.e., 2022 & 2023 with waiver of guaranteed fee to repay its high-cost debt and restructure it with new sustainable loan. During the year ended March 31, 2023, the company has raised Rs. 10,910/- Crore (refer note no. 78 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements)
(ii) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL):
a) The Company has certain balances receivable from and payables to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The net amount recoverable of Rs. 3535.34 Crores is subject to reconciliation and confirmation. In view of non-reconciliation and non-confirmation and in view of various pending disputes regarding claims and counter claims, we are not in a position to ascertain and comment on the correctness of the outstanding balances and resultant impact of the same on the standalone Ind-AS financial statements of the Company.
b) The Company has not provided a provision for doubtful claims in respect of lapsed CENVAT Credit due to non-payment of service tax to service providers within the period of 180 days and due to transition provision under Goods and Service Tax (GST) where the aforesaid CENVAT credit amounting to Rs. 115.97 Crores has not been carried forward resulting in overstatement of Current Assets and understatement of loss to that extent.
(iii) The Company has certain balances receivable from and payable to the Department of Telecommunication (DOT). The net amount recoverable of Rs. 124.04 Crores, out of which Rs.123.89 Crores is subject to reconciliation and confirmation. In view of non-reconciliation and non-confirmation, we are not in a position to ascertain and comment on the correctness of the outstanding balances and resultant impact of the same on standalone Ind AS financial statements of the Company. (Also refer point no. (a) of note no. 70 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements).
(iv) Up to the financial year 2011-12 License Fee payable to the DOT on IUC charges to BSNL was worked out on accrual basis as against the terms of License agreements requiring deduction for expenditure from the gross revenue to be allowed on actual payment basis. From financial year 2012-13, the license fee payable to the DOT has been worked out strictly in terms of the license agreements. The Company continues to reflect the difference in license fee arising from working out the same on accrual basis as aforesaid for the period up to financial year 2011-12 by way of contingent liability of Rs. 140.36 Crores instead of actual liability resulting in understatement of current liabilities and understatement of loss to that extent. (Refer note no. 82 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements).
(v) Except for the impairment loss of assets of CDMA units provided in earlier years, no adjustment has been considered on account of impairment loss, if any, during the year, with reference to Indian Accounting Standard - 36 "Impairment of Assets" prescribed under Section 133 of the Act. In view of uncertainty in achievement of future projections made by the Company, we are unable to ascertain and comment on the provision required in respect of impairment in carrying value of cash generating units and its consequent impact on the loss for the year ended March 31st, 2023, accumulated balance of other equity and also the carrying value of the cash generating units. (Refer note no. 72 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements).
(vi) The Company does not follow a system of obtaining confirmations and performing reconciliation of balances in respect of amount receivables from trade receivables, deposits with Government Departments and others, claim recoverable from operators and other parties and amount payable to trade payables, claim payable to operators, and amount payable to other parties.
Accordingly, amounts receivable from and payable to the various parties are subject to confirmation and reconciliation. Pending such confirmation and reconciliation, the impact thereof on the standalone financial statements are not ascertainable and quantifiable. (Refer note no. 67 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements).
(vii) Unlinked credit of Rs. 88.69 Crore on account of receipts from subscribers against billing by the Company which could not be matched with corresponding receivables is appearing as liabilities in the balance sheet. To that extent, trade receivables and current liabilities are overstated. Pending reconciliations, the impact thereof on the standalone financial statement are not ascertainable and quantifiable. (Also refer note no. 66 and 77 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements).
(viii) Property, Plant and Equipment are generally capitalized on the basis of completion certificates issued by the engineering department or bills received by the finance department in respect of bought out capital items or inventory issued from the Stores. Due to delays in issuance of the completion certificates or receipt of the bills or receipt of inventory issue slips, there are cases where capitalization of the Property, Plant and Equipment gets deferred to next year. We are unable to comment whether the Capital Work-in-progress (CWIP) shown in books in the current year are actually part of CWIP or have already been commissioned. The resultant impact of the same on the standalone Ind AS financial statement by way of depreciation and amount of Property, Plant and Equipment capitalized in the balance sheet cannot be ascertained and quantified.
(ix) Department of Telecommunication (DOT) had raised a demand of Rs. 3,313.15 Crore in 2012-13 on account of one-time charges for 2G spectrum held by the Company for GSM and CDMA for the period of license already elapsed and also for the remaining valid period of license including spectrum given on trial basis.
As explained the demand for spectrum usage for CDMA for Rs 107.44 Crore has been withdrawn by DOT on account of rectification of actual usage.
Also as explained, pending finality of the issue by the Company regarding surrender of a part of the spectrum, crystallization of issue by the DOT in view of the claim being contested by private operators and because of the matter being sub-judice in the Apex Court on account of dispute by other private operators on the similar demands, the amount payable, if any, is indeterminate. Accordingly, no liability has been created for the demand made by DOT on this account and Rs. 3,205.71 Crores has been disclosed as contingent liability till FY 2018-19 although no further demand is there from DOT till date. However as explained further, the TDSAT while setting aside the levy of OTSC on spectrum allotted beyond 6.2 MHz, directed Govt. to review the demand for spectrum allotted after 1-7-2008 and that too w.e.f, 1-1-2013 in case the spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz was allotted before 1-1-2013. As explained, as per the TDSAT orders also no further demand has been raised till now and as per management based on TDSAT direction the demand, if any, cannot be more than Rs. 455.15 crores the same is considered as contingent liability.
In view of the above we are not in a position to comment on the correctness of the stand taken by the Company and the ultimate implications of the same on the standalone Ind AS financial statement of the Company. (Also refer note no. 61 to the standalone Ind-AS financial statements).
(x) The company has recovered Electricity Charges from the tenants, on which liability for Goods and Services Tax (GST) has not been considered, as the expenses recovered without installing sub meter in some of the cases. The actual impact of the same on the standalone Ind AS financial Statement for the year ended March 31st, 2023, has not been ascertained and quantified.
(xi) The TDS on provision for Expenses (Accrued Liability) has not been deducted under chapter XVII- B of Income Tax Act, 1961. The actual impact of the same on the standalone Ind-AS financial statement for the year ended March 31st, 2023, has not been ascertained and quantified.
(xii) The Company is making the provision for interest for late/non-payment to MSME vendors which is subject to deduction of tax under section 194A of Income Tax Act, 1961.The actual impact of the same on the standalone Ind-AS financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023, is not ascertained and quantified.
(xiii) The income arising on account of rental income in respect of property occupied by the BSNL amounting to Rs. 8.38 Crores and Rs. 33.52 Crores accrued during the year ended March 31st, 2023, has not been recognized in Delhi unit in the Standalone Ind-AS financial statement. Further, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has also not been considered in respect of income arising on account of rented property occupied by the BSNL for both Delhi and Mumbai unit. The accumulated impact on the standalone Ind-AS financial statement of such income and liability under Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the current year and preceding years is not ascertained and quantified.
(xiv) Company's investment in its associates "United Telecom Limited (UTL)” aggregating Rs. 35.85 Crore has been classified as 'Assets-held-for-sale' however, we have not been made available with the 'fair value less costs to sell' to arrive at the lower of 'carrying amount' and 'fair value less costs to sell' as required pursuant to the measurement principles enumerated in IND AS 105. On our review of the latest available financial statements of the UTL, we have noticed that the net worth has been fully eroded and is negative. Further, the said investment has been classified as Asset-held-for-sale since year 2018, which is contrary to the recognition principles of IND AS 105 as the expected sale has not been completed within one year from classification. The impact of the aforesaid on the for the year ended March 31, 2023 has not been ascertained and quantified.
(xv) The company has not recognized for loss allowance for trade receivables as per the requirements of Ind AS 109 "Financial Instruments" amounting to Rs.68.06 Crore relating to companies which are under insolvency process and certain trade receivables amounting to Rs.11.55 Crore pertaining to infrastructure business, wherein there is significant increase in credit risk.
The impact of the aforesaid on the standalone Ind-AS financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023 has not been ascertained and quantified.
The above basis for qualified opinion referred to in Para no. (i) to (xiii) were subject matter of qualification in the Auditor's Report for the year ended on March 31, 2022.
In the absence of information, the effect of which can't be quantified, we are unable to comment on the possible impact of the items stated in the point nos. (i), (ii)(a), (iii), (v), (vi), (vii),(viii), (ix), (x), (xi) (xii), (xiii)., (xiv) and (xv) on the standalone Ind-AS financial statements of the Company for the year ended on March 31, 2023.
Emphasis of Matters
We draw attention to the following notes on the standalone IND-AS financial statements being matterspertaining to Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited requiring emphasis by us.
(i) Note no. 63 of Ind-AS financial statements regarding pending dispute with the Income Tax Department before the Hon'ble Courts regarding deduction claimed by the Company u/s 80 IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 we are unable to comment on the adequacy or otherwise of the provision and/ or contingency reserve held by the Company.
(ii) Note no. 64(b) Impact of accounting of claims and counter claims of MTNL with M/S M&N Publications Ltd., in a dispute over printing, publishing and supply of telephone directories for MTNL, will be given in the year when the ultimate collection/ payment of the same becomes reasonably certain.
(iii) Note no. 15 &19 Amount receivable from BSNL & Other Operators have been reflected as loans and other financial assets instead of bifurcating the same into trade receivables and other financial assets.
(iv) Note No.80 The operations and maintenance of wireless network has been handed over to BSNL as an outsource agency from 1.4.2021 (in case of Delhi) and 1.9.2021 (in case of Mumbai) onwards. Pending finalization of standard operating procedures, the financial impact of the same (if any) will be accounted for on finalization of operational modalities.
(v) Note No.70(d) The Amounts recoverable from Department of Telecommunication (DOT)
in respect of settlement of General Provident Fund (GPF) of Combined Service Optees absorbed employees in MTNL and the matter has been under review with DOT and the full amount of GPF including interest thereon, claimed of the Company in respect of which correspondence is going on between the Company and DOT are continued to be shown as recoverable from DOT and payable to GPF.
(vi) Note No.78 In pursuance of DoT letter No. F.No. 30-04/2019-PSU Affairs dt. 29th October, 2019 and decision of Board of Directors of MTNL through circular regulation on 4th November, 2019, the MTNL Voluntary Retirement Scheme has been introduced with effect from 4th November, 2019 under which 14,387 number of MTNL employees opted for VRS and the expenditure of ex-gratia on account of compensation to be borne by the DOT/ Government of India through budgetary supports as per approval of cabinet. Balance amount payable to VRS opted employees as on 31 March 2023 is shown in the financial statements of the company as receivable from DOT and payable to VRS retirees, to reflect the actual position with reference to VRS scheme of 2019 of MTNL
(vii) Note No. 82 The payables towards license fees and spectrum usage charges have been adjusted with excess pension payouts to Combined Pensioners Optees recoverable from DOT in respect of which matter is under consideration and correspondence in going on between the Company and DOT.
(viii) Note No. 82 The License agreement between Company and DOT does not have any guidance on change in method of calculation of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) due to migration to Ind-AS from I-GAAP. Provisioning and payment of liability in respect of license fees and spectrum usage charges payable to DOT has been done on the basis of Ind-AS based financial statements. The amount of difference in computation of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is under consideration of DOT.
(ix) Note No. 15(iv) Dues from the Operators being on account of revenue sharing agreements are not treated as debtors and consequently are not taken into account for making provision for doubtful debts. (Also refer clause no. (k) of note no. 3 to the standalone Ind- AS financial statements).
(x) Note 58(A) Certain immovable properties transferred from Department of Telecommunications ('DoT') to MTNL in earlier years, which were taken on lease by D oT prior to incorporation of MTNL. On 30 March 1987, both DoT and MTNL entered into a sale deed for transfer of the several movable and immovable assets from DoT to MTNL. The said transfer includes the leasehold lands and buildings which are now in possession of MTNL since the execution of the sale deed. These leasehold immovable properties have not been mutated or renewed in the name of MTNL till date. However, considering MTNL is a Public Sector Undertaking ('PSU'), the sale deed not registered at that time and executed by DOT is deemed to have been registered for the purpose of transfer of all such assets in terms of section 90 of the Indian registration act, 1908 as considered by the MTNL and stamp duty payable, if any, will be borne and paid by Government as and when any such occasion arises as per sale deed. Accordingly, these leasehold immovable properties have been classified by the management under the heading 'Right of Use assets'.
(xi) Note No. 60 In certain cases of freehold and leasehold land the company is having title deeds which are in the name of the Company but the value of which are not lying in the books of accounts of the Company.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of the aforesaid matters.
Material uncertainty related to going concern
We draw attention to Note no. 78 in the Ind-AS financial statements, which indicates that the Company has accumulated losses and its net worth has been fully/ substantially eroded, the company has incurred net loss/net cash loss during the current and previous year(s) and the company's current liabilities exceeded its current assets as at the balance date. These events or conditions, along with other matters as set forth in Note 78, indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Further, Government of India has also approved the "Revival plan of BSNL and MTNL" by reducing employee costs, administrative allotment of spectrum for 4G services, debt restructuring by raising of sovereign guaranteed bonds, monetization of assets and in principle approval for merger of BSNL and MTNL. Further, the Company implemented the Voluntary Retirement Scheme in FY 2019-20 resulted into reduction in Employees Cost and also raised funds by issuing Bonds for Rs. 6,500 Crore in FY 2020-21 in line with cabinet note.
Recently, as per F.NO.20-28/2022-PR dated 2nd August 2022, the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 27.02.2022 has approved the raising of the Sovereign Guarantee Bonds for MTNL with the tenure of 10 years or more for the amount of Rs. 17,571 Crore in two financial years i.e. 2022 & 2023 with the waiver of guaranteed fee to repay its highest cost debt and restructure it with new sustainable loan. During the year ended March 31, 2023, the company has raised Rs 10,910 Crore. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
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.
In addition to the matters described in the basis of qualified opinion section, we have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report
Information Other than the Standalone Ind-AS Financial Statements and Auditor's Report Thereon
The Company's Board of Directors are responsible for the preparation of the other information. The other information comprises in the Company's Annual Report but does not include the standalone Ind-AS financial statements and our auditor's report there on. The above mentioned other information 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 during the course of our audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
When we read the other information, if we conclude that there is material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.
Responsibilities of the Management and those charged with governance for the Standalone
Ind-AS Financial Statements
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of 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, financial performance including other comprehensive income, changes in equity and the Statement of cash flows of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS) specified under section 133 of the Act, read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended.
This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding of 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.
Those Board of Directors are 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 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 an adequate internal financial controls system 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 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 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.
Other Matters:
The comparative Ind-AS financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2022 included in these Standalone Ind-AS financial statements have been audited by SPMG & Co. Chartered Accountants jointly with another firm of chartered accountants, whose audit report dated 30 th May 2022 expressed modified opinion on the comparative Ind AS financial statements.
Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter
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 of India in term of sub section (11) of section 143 of the Companies Act 2013, we give in the ''Annexure A'' a statement on the matters specified in paragraph 3 and 4 of the Order, to the extent applicable.
2. As required by section 143(5) of the Act, we give in "Annexure B" a statement on the matters specified by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the Company.
3. As per the Notification No. GSR 463(E) dated 5th June 2015 issued by the Ministry of Corporate Aff airs, Government of India, Section 197 is not applicable to the Government Companies. Accordingly, reporting in accordance with the requirement of provisions of section 197(16) of the Act is not applicable on the Company.
4. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, based on our audit 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 except for the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion Paragraph above.
b) Except for the possible effects of the matters described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion Paragraph above, 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 Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss including Other Comprehensive Income, Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the relevant books of account.
d) In our opinion, except for the matters described in the Basis of Qualified Opinion Paragraph above, the aforesaid standalone Ind-AS financial statements comply with the Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e) Being the Government Company pursuant to the Notification No. GSR 463(E) dated 5 June 2015 issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, provisions of sub-section (2) of section 164 of the Act, are not applicable to the Company.
f) The matters described in the Basis of Qualified Opinion Paragraph above, in our opinion, may have an adverse effect on the functioning of the company.
g) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls over financial reporting of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in "Annexure C".
h) The qualification relating to the maintenance of accounts and other matter connected there with are as stated in the Basis of Qualified Opinion Paragraph above.
i) 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 Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its standalone Ind-AS financial statements. (Refer to note no. 50 of 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; and
iii. There has been no delay in transferring the 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 (which are material either individually or in the aggregate) have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other person or entity, including foreign entity ("Intermediaries"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, whether, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries;
(b) The Management has represented, that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds (which are material either individually or in the aggregate) have been received by the Company from any person or entity, including foreign entity ("Funding Parties"), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, whether, directly or indirectly,
lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party ("Ultimate Beneficiaries") or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(c) Based on the audit procedures that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that 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 company has not declared or paid any dividend during the year. Accordingly, the provision of Section 123 of the Act is not applicable.
vi. Proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 for maintaining books of account using accounting software which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility is applicable to the Company with effect from April 1, 2023, and accordingly, reporting under Rule 11(g) of Companies (Audit & Auditors) Rules, 2014 is not applicable for the financial year ended March 31, 2023.
For SPMG & Co. For SCV & Co. LLP
Chartered Accountants Chartered Accountants
Firm Registration No.: 509249C Firm Registration No.: 000235N/
N500089
CA Mandeep Singh Arora CA Abhinav Khosla
Partner Partner
Membership No.: 091243 Membership No.: 087010
UDIN: 23091243BGSKCK7314 UDIN: 23087010BGZFEP2308
Place: New Delhi Date:29th May,2023
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