r. Provisions and Contingent Liabilities / Assets
The Company recognises a provision when there is a present obligation as a result of a past event that probably requires an outflow of resources and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. A disclosure for a contingent liability is made when there is a possible obligation or a present obligation that may, but probably will not, require an outflow of resources. Where there is a possible obligation or a present obligation that the likelihood of outflow of resources is remote, no provision or
disclosure is made. Loss contingencies arising from litigation etc. are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
Contingent assets are neither recognised nor disclosed.
s. Earnings per Share
As per Accounting Standard 20 on Earnings Per Share, basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net profit or loss for the period in the shareholders' account by the weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the period.
For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share, the net profit or loss for the year attributable to shareholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period are adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential equity shares.
t. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of Receipts and Payments Account comprises of cash and cheques in hand, bank balances, deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Receipts and Payments Account is prepared and reported using the Direct Method in accordance with Accounting Standard 3, Cash Flow Statements" as per requirements of the IRDAI AFI Master Circular 2024 and the IRDAI AFI Regulations 2024.
Notes:
Note 1:
Show-cause notices issued by various Government Authorities are not considered as an obligation. When any order or notice is raised by the authorities for which the Company is in appeal under adjudication, these are disclosed as contingent liability except in cases where the probability of any financial outflow is remote.
Note 2:
The IRDAI has issued directions under section 34 (1) of the Insurance Act, 1938 to refund to the members or the beneficiaries, the excess commission allegedly paid to corporate agents amounting to ' 27,529 Lakhs (previous year ended March 31, 2024: ' 27,529 Lakhs) vide order no. IRDA/Life/ORD/Misc/083/03/2014 dated March 11, 2014 has been set aside by Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) vide its order dated 29 January 2020. The SAT has remitted the matter to IRDAI to recalculate the interest earned on advance premium collected. The IRDAI recalculation, if any, has not been received by the Company. The IRDAI and SBI Life both, have challenged SAT order dated January 29 2020 before the Hon'ble Supreme Court
of India in Civil Appeal Nos. 254-255 of 2021 and Civil Appeal No. 2497-2498 of 2021 respectively, which is yet to be adjudicated upon.
Note 3:
These cases pertain to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business and pending at various appellate forums/courts. The Company has made a provision of ' 5,319 Lakhs at March 31, 2025 (Previous year ended March 31, 2024'4,388 Lakhs) where the management assessment of a financial outflow is probable.
Pending Litigation
The Company's pending litigations comprise of claims against the Company primarily by customers and proceedings pending with tax authorities. The Company has reviewed all its pending litigations and proceedings and has adequately provided for where provisions are required and disclosed the contingent liability (refer note 1 of Schedule 16 (C)) where applicable, in its financial statements. The Company does not expect the outcome of these proceedings to have a material adverse effect on its financial statements as at March 31, 2025.
5. Actuarial Assumptions
The assumptions used in valuation of liabilities are in accordance with the guidelines and norms issued by the IRDAI and the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) in concurrence with IRDAI.
The actuarial assumptions certified by the Appointed Actuary are as under:
a. In the actuarial valuation all the policies, which were in the books of the Company and where there is a liability as at March 31, 2025, have been taken into account.
The portfolio consists of Participating, Non-Participating and Linked segments.
'Participating' segment is further classified in to the following Lines of Businesses (LoBs): Individual - Life - Participating, Individual - Pension - Participating, Group - Pension - Participating and Individual - VIP - Participating.
'Non-Participating' segment is further classified in to the following LoBs: Individual
- Life - Non-Participating, Individual
- Pension - Non-Participating, Group Savings - Non-Participating, Group One Year Renewable Group Term Assurance (OYRGTA) - Non-Participating, Group Other - Non-Participating, Annuity - Non-Participating (Individual and Group), Health
- Non-Participating (Individual and Group), and VIP - Non-Participating (Individual and Group).
'Linked' segment is further classified in to the following LoBs: Individual - Life - Linked, Group - Linked and Individual - Pension - Linked.
b. In respect of the policies which are likely to get cancelled during their free-look period, adequate provision has been made towards the strain that may arise. Such provision has been made in line with the company experience and the relevant provisions in the policy contract(s).
c. The following parametric values are used to carry out the actuarial valuation:
For mortality assumption under life business 'Indian Assured Lives (2012-2014) Ultimate Mortality table' and under general annuity business 'Indian Individual Annuitant's Mortality Table (2012-15)' has been used. For Morbidity assumption, the Morbidity Tables provided by re-insurers has been used with suitable adjustment.
For participating products, the vested bonuses are those which were distributed by the Company consequent to the actuarial valuations carried out annually at the end of each financial year dated March 31, 2002 to March 31, 2025. Regarding bonus provisions for the current financial year and bonus provision for future years, the bonus rates have been assessed by carrying out Bonus Earning Capacity (BEC) / asset share investigations and taking into consideration the policyholder's reasonable expectations.
Prevailing tax rate as applicable has been duly allowed for in valuation of policy liabilities.
For participating pension products, special one-time bonus declared during financial year 2003-04 and 2004-05 have been taken into account. Appropriate future bonus assumptions have been made.
Margin for Adverse Deviation (MAD) has been provided, wherever applicable and required.
In addition to this, Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) claims reserve is also provided wherever required.
The above parameters and the MAD provision have been observed to ensure prudence and are in accordance with the GN / APS issued by the Institute of Actuaries of India and in concurrence with the Regulations and circulars of IRDAI.
The Surplus emerged from Non-participating segment has been transferred to Profit & Loss Account for the year ended March 31, 2025 based on the recommendation of the Appointed Actuary and the necessary fund transfer will be made after the year end on the basis of Audited financials with required recommendations by the Appointed Actuary.
Appointed Actuary is satisfied that the nature and extent of reinsurance arrangements require no additional reserve to be set aside apart from reinsurance reserves set aside based on Unearned Premium Reserve (UPR) methodology.
Considering the prudence of the valuation basis and the margins in the assumptions, our assessment is that, the reserve set aside is sufficient to meet all future policy outgoes under adverse conditions.
Funds for Future Appropriation
As at March 31, 2025, the Funds for Future Appropriation (FFA) in non-linked participating segments is ' 144,797 Lakhs (previous year ended March 31, 2024'133,656 Lakhs).
As at March 31, 2025, the Funds for Future Appropriation (FFA) held in linked segments is ' 14,340 Lakhs (previous year ended
March 31, 2024: Nil) in accordance with the IRDAI AFI Regulations 2024 and the IRDAI AFI Master Circular 2024.
6. Cost of Guarantee
Provision of ' 58,010 Lakhs (previous year ended March 31, 2024'32,493 Lakhs) has also been made for the cost of guarantee under Individual unit linked policies with guarantee.
7. Policy Liabilities
The non-linked policy liability after reinsurance of ' 17,988,323 Lakhs as on March 31, 2025 (previous year ended March 31, 2024 : ' 15,580,850 Lakhs) includes the following non-unit reserve held for linked liabilities:
12. Managerial remuneration
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India ('IRDAI' or 'the Authority') has issued Master Circular on Corporate Governance for Insurers, 2024 which replaces and supersedes erstwhile Guidelines on Remuneration of Directors and Key Managerial Persons of Insurer 2023. The IRDAI Master Circular on Corporate Governance for Insurers, 2024 specifies the norms for remuneration of KMPs.
The Managing Director and CEO is on deputation from State Bank of India (SBI) and his remuneration is included under “Employees remuneration and welfare benefits" under “Operating expenses related to insurance business." Further, as per IRDAI Master Circular on Corporate Governance for Insurers, 2024 the remuneration of KMPs of insurers on deputation from PSU promoter are allowed to be governed by their respective remuneration rules/guidelines of their PSU promoter.
Qualitative Disclosures
1. Information relating to the composition and mandate of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee
The Board Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC) oversees and governs the compensation practices of the Company. The Company's Remuneration Policy is guided by a reward framework and set of principles and objectives as more fully and particularly envisaged under section 178 of Companies Act 2013, Master Circular on Corporate Governance for Insurers, 2024 and SEBI Listing Regulations.
performance is clear and meets performance benchmarks. Remuneration shall consist of Fixed Pay including allowances, perquisites, retirement benefits and Variable Pay including incentives, bonus, share linked instruments, joining / sign of bonus, etc.
• To provide to Key Management Persons, Senior Management and other employees, rewards linked directly to their effort, performance, dedication and achievement relating to the Company's operations and shall not encourage Key Managerial Persons to take inappropriate or excessive risks for their performance based variable remuneration.
• To retain, motivate and promote talent and to ensure long term sustainability of talented managerial persons and create competitive advantage.
• To ensure alignment of compensation with prudent risk taking.
The policy is reviewed by Board NRC annually or as and when required.
3. Description of the ways in which current and future risks are taken into account in the remuneration policy including the nature and type of the key measures used to take account of these risks
The Remuneration policy promotes sound and prudent risk management. Remuneration structure is well aligned with the long-term growth, health and objectives of the company. Compensation outcomes are symmetric with risk outcomes and pay-outs thereof are sensitive to the time horizon of the
risk and the mix of cash, equity and other forms of remuneration are consistent with risk alignment.
The Remuneration policy of the Company ensures proper balance between fixed pay and variable pay. Variable Pay is in the form of “pay at risk" and depending on performance and risk outcomes at individual and company-wide level, the quantum of Variable Pay changes.
As per the Remuneration policy, which is aligned with IRDAI circular, for Key Managerial Persons, at least 50% of the total variable pay is under deferral arrangement and the deferral is spread over at least three years. The deferred variable pay is also subject to Malus and Claw-Back clauses as detailed in the Remuneration Policy of the Company.
4. Description of ways in which the insurer seeks to link performance, during a performance measurement period, with levels of remuneration.
The Company has an annual increment and variable pay policy which is based on merit pay philosophy linked to both individual as well as Company's performance.
Various performance parameters for the Company are reviewed by Board NRC and approved by the Board every year. Based on the actual performance, the Company performance rating is approved by the Board based on the recommendations of Board NRC after the end of every financial year.
The framework of annual increment and performance linked Variable Pay for all employees is reviewed by the Board NRC and approved by the Board every year.
2. Information relating to the design and structure of remuneration policy and the key features and objective of remuneration policy
We follow contribution-oriented philosophy and our compensation is performance-driven, emphasizing and recognizing the contributions made by individual employees. It accentuates performance-based pay, incentives, and shared responsibility for benefits. The key objectives of the remuneration policy are:
• To define and implement overall remuneration philosophy and framework for payment of remuneration payable to Directors (Executive and Non-Executive), Key Managerial Persons and other employees of the Company.
• To ensure that level and composition of remuneration is reasonable and sufficient, relationship of remuneration to
Income tax provisions involves significant judgments in determining the provision for income taxes including judgment on whether tax positions are probable of being sustained in tax assessments. The Management periodically reassess and evaluates tax position with respect to applicable tax law based on the existing facts and circumstances.
16. Operating lease arrangements (a) Assets taken on operating lease:
In accordance with Accounting Standard 19 on 'Leases', the details of leasing arrangements entered into by the Company are as under:
The Company has entered into agreements in the nature of lease or leave and licence with different lessors or licensors for residential premises, office premises and motor vehicles. These are in the nature of operating lease. Some of these lease arrangements contain provisions for renewal and escalation. There are no restrictions imposed by lease arrangements nor are there any options given to the Company to purchase the properties and the rent is not determined based on any contingency.
The operating lease rentals charged to the Revenue Account during the year and future minimum lease payments as at the Balance Sheet date are as follows:
17. Earnings per share
In accordance with Accounting Standard 20 on 'Earnings per share', basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net profit or loss in the shareholders' account by the weighted average number of equity shares outstanding during the year.
For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share, the net profit or loss for the year attributable to shareholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year are adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential equity shares. Potential equity shares are deemed to be dilutive only if their conversion to equity shares would decrease the net profit per share from continuing ordinary operations.
19. Employee benefits a. Defined Benefit Plans:
(i) Gratuity
Gratuity is funded defined benefit plan for qualifying employees under which the Company makes a contribution to the SBI Life Insurance Company Limited Employees Gratuity Fund. The plan provides for a lump sum payment as determined in the manner specified under The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, to the vested employees either at retirement or on death while in employment or on termination of employment. The benefit vests after five years of continuous service. Defined benefit obligations are actuarially determined at each Balance Sheet date using the projected unit credit method (PUCM) as per Accounting Standard 15 (Revised), “Employee benefits". Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in the Revenue Account.
c. Employee Stock Option Scheme (ESOS)
The SBI Life Employee Stock Option Plan 2018 ('ESOP 2018') and SBI Life Employees Stock Option Scheme 2018 ('the Scheme' or 'ESOS 2018') has been approved by the shareholders of the Company in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 27, 2018 based on the recommendation of the Board Nomination & Remuneration Committee ('NRC') and Board of Directors ('Board') in their meetings held on August 31, 2018.
The maximum number of stock options granted to eligible employees in accordance with ESOP 2018 shall not exceed 30,000,000 shares. During any one year, no employee shall be granted Options equal to or exceeding 1% of the issued share capital of the Company at the time of Grant of Options unless an approval from the Shareholders is taken by way of special resolution in a General Meeting. Further, the maximum number of Options in aggregate granted to an employee under this Plan shall not exceed 10,000,000 Options. The Exercise Price shall be determined by the Board Nomination & Remuneration Committee in concurrence with the Board of Directors of the Company on the date the Options are granted and provided in the letter of grant.
The Scheme is directly administered by the Company and provides that eligible employees are granted options to subscribe to equity shares of the Company which vest in a graded manner. The vested options may be exercised within a specified period.
During the year ended March 31, 2025 the NRC in its meeting held on July 17, 2024 and July 24, 2024 has approved the grant of the Employee Stock Options ('Options') under the provisions of ESOS 2018.
22. Investment Properties - Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
The investment in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT's) of ' 131,338 Lakhs as at year ended March 31, 2025 (Previous year ended March 31, 2024'64,726 Lakhs) has been disclosed as part of the Investment Property in accordance with the IRDAI AFI Master Circular 2024 and the IRDAI AFI Regulations 2024 under schedule 8 and 8A of the Financial Statements.
23. Derivatives
The Company offers guaranteed products wherein the Policyholders are assured of a fixed rate of return for premiums to be received in future. These premiums are likely to be received over a longer tenure and the guaranteed rate of return is fixed at the beginning of the policy term. Any fall in interest rates would mean that each incremental investment of the Company would earn a lower rate of return. Accordingly, the Company manages the Interest Rate Risk in accordance with the IRDAI AFI Master Circular 2024 and the IRDAI AFI Regulations 2024 which allows insurers to deal in rupee interest rate derivatives such as Forward Rate Agreements (“FRAs"), Interest Rate Swaps (“IRS") and Exchange Traded Interest Rate Futures (“IRF").
The Company has in place a derivative policy approved by Board which covers various aspects that apply to the functioning of the derivative transactions undertaken to substantiate the hedge strategy to mitigate the interest rate risk, thereby managing the volatility of returns from future fixed income investments, due to variations in market interest rates.
The Company enters into Forward Rate Agreements (FRA) transactions, as part of its Hedging strategy, to hedge the interest rate sensitivity for highly probable forecasted transactions as permitted by the IRDAI circular on Interest Rate Derivatives.
Forward Rate Agreement derivative contracts are over-the-counter (OTC) transactions wherein, the Company lock-in the yield on the government bond for the period till the maturity of the contract with an objective to lock in the price of an interest bearing security at a future date.
Derivatives (FRA) are undertaken by Company solely for the purpose of hedging interest rate risks on account of following forecasted transactions: a) Reinvestment of maturity proceeds of existing fixed income investments; b) Investment of interest income receivable; and c) Expected policy premium income receivable on insurance contracts which are already underwritten in Life, Pension & Annuity business.
vii. A net amount of '(7,072) Lakhs for the year ended March 31, 2025 (Previous year ended March 31, 2024 '(15,811) Lakhs) has recognized in Revenue Account being portion of loss determined to be ineffective.
viii. The amount that was removed from Hedge Reserve account during the year ended March 31, 2025 in respect of forecast transaction for which hedge accounting had previously been used, but is no longer expected to occur is ' Nil (Previous year ' Nil). The cash flows from the hedges are expected to occur over the outstanding tenure of underlying policy liabilities and will accordingly flow to the Revenue Account.
B. Qualitative Disclosures on risk exposure in Fixed Income Derivatives:
Overview of business and processes:
a) Fixed Income Derivative Hedging instruments:
Derivatives are financial instruments whose characteristics are derived from the underlying assets, or from interest and exchange rates or indices. These include forward rate agreements, interest rate swaps and interest rate futures.
The Company during the financial year has entered into FRA derivative instrument to minimise exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on plan assets and liabilities. This hedge is carried in accordance with its established policies, strategy, objective and applicable regulations. The Company does not engage in derivative transactions for speculative purposes.
b) Derivative policy/process and Hedge effectiveness assessment:
The Company has well defined Board approved Derivative Policy and Process document setting out the strategic objectives, regulatory and operational framework and risks associated with interest rate derivatives along with having measurement, monitoring processes and controls thereof. The accounting policy has been clearly laid out for ensuring a process of periodic effectiveness assessment and accounting.
The Company has clearly identified roles and responsibilities to ensure independence and accountability through the investment decision, trade execution, to settlement, accounting and periodic reporting and audit
of the Interest Rate Derivative exposures. The risk management framework for the Interest Rate Derivatives are monitored by the Risk Management Committee.
c) Scope and nature of risk identification, risk measurement, and risk monitoring:
The Derivative and related Policies as approved by the Board sets appropriate market limits such as sensitivity limits and value-at-risk limits for exposures in interest rate derivatives. All financial risks of the derivative portfolio are measured and monitored on periodic basis.
C. Quantitative disclosure on risk exposure in Forward Rate Agreement
A hedge is deemed effective, if it has a high statistical correlation between the change in value of the hedged item and the hedging instrument (FRA). Gains or losses arising from hedge ineffectiveness, if any, are recognised in the Revenue Account.
The credit exposure limit for FRA derivatives has been calculated on the basis of Credit Equivalent Amount using the Current Exposure Method (CEM) as detailed below:
The Credit Equivalent Amount of a market related off-balance sheet transaction calculated using the CEM is the sum of
a) the current credit exposure (gross positive mark to market value of the contract); and
b) potential future credit exposure which is a product of the notional principal amount across the outstanding contract and a factor that is based on the mandated credit conversion factors as prescribed under the IRDAI circular on Interest Rate Derivatives, which is applied on the residual maturity of the contract.
25. Additional disclosure requirements as per Corporate Governance Guidelines
i. Quantitative and qualitative information on the insurer's financial and operating ratios, namely, incurred claim, commission and expenses ratios:
Refer summary of financial statement and ratios.
ii. Actual solvency margin details vis-a-vis the required solvency margin
The actual solvency margin of the Company as on March 31, 2025 stands at 1.96 times (previous year ended March 31, 2024: 1.96 times) as against regulatory requirement of 1.50. There has been no capital infusion after FY 2007-08.
iii. Persistency ratio
The persistency ratio (13th month) for regular premium and limited premium paying term policies of Individual segment for the year ended March 31, 2025 is 87.41% (previous year ended March 31, 2024 is 86.78%) based on premium amount and 80.43% (previous year ended March 31, 2024 is 81.10%) based on number of policies.
The persistency ratios are calculated as per IRDAI circular reference IRDAI/NL/MSTCIR/RT/93/6/2024 dated June 14, 2024.
Persistency ratios for the year ended March 31, 2025 and March 31, 2024 are calculated using policies issued in 1st March to 28th/29th February period of the relevant years.
iv. Financial performance including growth rate and current financial position of the insurer
Refer summary of financial statement and ratios.
v. A description of the risk management architecture
The Board has the ultimate responsibility for overseeing the management of risk within the Company. The Risk profile of the Company is reported to the Board by the Risk Management Committee of the Board (RMC-B) from time to time. The RMC-B is responsible for overseeing the Company's risk management program and for ensuring that significant risks to the Company are reported to the Board on a timely basis and apprise the Board of the various risk management strategies being adopted. The Company's Risk Appetite statement and the Annual Risk assessment are reviewed by the Board so as to ensure that the business of the Company is carried out within the set risk limits.
The RMC-B is supported by Risk Management Committee of the Executives (RMC-E) and the Asset Liability Committee (ALCO). The RMC-E oversees the enterprise wide risk management activities and the ALCO monitors insurance and investment risk portfolio.
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