To the Members of Rallis India Limited
The Directors present their Seventy-Seventh (77th) Annual
Report on the business and operations of Rallis India Limited (the
Company?/Rallis?) along with the Audited Financial Statements for the
Financial Year (FY?) ended March 31, 2025.
Financial Results
|
FY25 |
FY24 |
Particulars |
Current Financial Year |
Previous Financial Year |
Revenue from operations |
2,662.94 |
2,648.38 |
Other income |
31.72 |
15.60 |
Total Income |
2,694.66 |
2,663.98 |
Profit before finance cost, depreciation & amortisation
and tax |
318.48 |
326.75 |
Finance costs |
12.49 |
17.68 |
Depreciation & Amortisation expenses |
120.49 |
114.09 |
Profit before exceptional items and tax |
185.50 |
194.98 |
Exceptional items |
1.17 |
0.68 |
Profit before tax |
186.67 |
195.66 |
Current tax |
55.57 |
59.49 |
Deferred tax |
5.97 |
(11.70) |
Profit for the year |
125.13 |
147.87 |
Profit for the year attributable to: |
|
|
- Owners of the Company |
125.13 |
147.87 |
- Non-controlling interests |
- |
- |
Total other comprehensive income (net of taxes)
(OCI?) |
(1.75) |
0.18 |
Total comprehensive income for the year |
123.38 |
148.05 |
Opening Balance of Retained Earnings |
1,366.29 |
1,267.42 |
|
1,489.67 |
1,415.47 |
Appropriations |
|
|
Dividend on Equity Shares# |
(48.62) |
(48.62) |
Transfer to Reserve for equity instruments through OCI |
(0.00) |
(0.32) |
Transfer to Cash flow hedge reserve |
- |
(0.24) |
Closing Balance of Retained Earnings |
1,441.05 |
1,366.29 |
Dividend
The Directors are pleased to recommend a dividend of _ 2.50 per share
(i.e., 250%) on the Equity Shares of the Company of _ 1 each for the year ended
March 31, 2025 (previous year _ 2.50 per share i.e., 250%). If the dividend, as
recommended above, is declared at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM?),
the total outflow towards dividend on Equity Shares for the year would be _ 48.62 crore
(previous year _ 48.62 crore).
Dividend Distribution Policy
Pursuant to Regulation 43A of the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (SEBI
Listing Regulations?), the Board of Directors of the Company has in place a Dividend
Distribution Policy which aims to maintain a balance between profit retention and a fair,
sustainable and consistent distribution of profits among its Members. The said Policy is
available on the website of the Company under the Investors? section at
https://www.rallis.com/ DividendDistributionPolicy.
Transfer to Reserves
As permitted under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 (the
Act?) the Board of Directors has decided to retain the entire amount of profits for
FY 2024-25 in the retained earnings.
Share Capital
The paid-up Equity Share Capital as on March 31, 2025 was _ 19.45
crore. During the year under review, the Company has not issued any shares.
Company?s Performance
The Company?s revenue from operations for FY 2024-25 was
_ 2,663 crore as compared to _ 2,648 crore during FY 2023-24, an
increase of 1% from the previous year. The Company?s Profit before exceptional items
and tax was _ 186 crore during the year compared to _ 195 crore in the previous
year. The Company earned a net profit after tax of _ 125 crore, lower by 15%, as against a
net profit after tax of _ 148 crore in the previous year.
Business Context
According to the World Bank, the global economy grew by 3.2% in
Calendar Year (CY?) 2024 and is estimated to achieve a growth of 3.3% in both
CY 2025 and CY 2026. Advanced economies are anticipated to see a moderate uptick from 1.7%
to 1.9% in CY 2025, whereas growth in emerging and developing economies is likely to
remain stable at 4.2% in CY 2025.
Inflation is projected to decline from 4.6% in 2024 to 4.2% in 2025 and
3.5% in 2026. In 2025, the global economy is expected to see continued, albeit moderate,
growth, supported by factors such as easing inflation and monetary policy, high private
consumption and investment. However, risks to this outlook involve monetary policy changes
due to inflation, geopolitical tensions leading to supply chain disruptions and structural
slowdowns in major economies, including China.
India?s agriculture sector has shown robust growth in recent
years, which can be primarily attributed to favourable Government initiatives aimed at
improving productivity, encouraging farmers to grow different types of crops and enhancing
their incomes. The Ministry of Agriculture is extending vital assistance to farmers
through various schemes, which in turn, is resulting in a surge in crop production.1
In FY 2024-25, the country achieved record rice, wheat and maize production, with kharif
foodgrain production reaching 664 lakh metric tonnes and rabi food grain production
totalling 645 lakh metric tonnes. In FY 2024-25, India?s agricultural exports were
valued at USD 48.77 billion.2
The outlook for the Indian agriculture sector in FY 2025-26 appears
optimistic. The Company is well-positioned to benefit from the growth of India?s
agriculture sector with its comprehensive portfolio range comprising of crop protection,
Soil & Plant Health and high quality seeds.
Farmers are increasingly seeking effective solutions to safeguard their
crops from biotic and abiotic threats. This has resulted in consistent growth in
India?s crop protection sector. Due to increasing demand, India now ranks among the
top exporters of agrochemicals globally. Also, going forward, due to favourable market
dynamics, the business landscape is expected to show a positive sign of growth.
A. Crop Care
During the year under review, the Domestic Crop Care business achieved
a revenue of _ 1,700 crore as against 1,594 crore during FY 2023-24, a growth of
7%. The Exports business achieved a revenue of _ 545 crore during FY 2024-25
as against _ 639 crore during FY 2023-24, a de-growth of 15%.
Domestic Crop Protection:
The year has been challenging, especially during the second half of the
year, where liquidation was affected in many segments due to low pest incidence, poor crop
sentiments, cyclones etc. The crop protection brand sales were largely flat compared to
the previous year?s revenue with reasonable growth registered in North, East and West
geographies but de-growth in South.
Exports:
Exports business recorded _ 545 crore during FY 2024-25 against _ 639
crore in FY 2023-24 due to de-growth in global demand amid oversupply from China and price
deflation. The pilot-scale production of Flavocide? was successfully conducted under the
Custom Synthesis & Manufacturing (CSM?) business. During the year, the
Company had gained three (3) new export registrations. The Company had added two (2) new
products in export portfolio and one new product in CSM business. Significant efforts have
been made to build partnerships.
B. Seeds
The Seeds business continued to perform well, with the notable cotton
brand "Diggaz" in North, despite reduced crop acreages of Cotton, Bajra and
Mustard. The Seeds business revenue stood at _ 418 crore in comparison to previous year.
During the year, the Company had launched 17 new products across Cotton, Paddy, Millet and
vegetable crops. The actions taken under "Project Fit" are resulting in improved
performance and optimise operating costs. During the year, the seed industry continued to
grapple with seed production issues stemming from intense competition. Additionally,
unseasonal rains further impacted production costs and seed availability.
Farmer Engagement
Customer centricity is one of Rallis? core values. The Company
broadly has three (3) categories of customers under Business to Consumer (B2C) business
i.e., dealers, retailers and farmers. The Company?s dealers are highly regarded for
their long-term association with strong loyalty. The Company also has a MD's club group in
Crop Care business and Milan program in Seeds business. The Company?s retailers are
engaged with Anubhandh Edge programme in both Crop Care and Seeds business. As part of its
farmer engagement efforts, the Crop Care business connects with the farmers at sequential
crop stages, offering stage-specific crop interventions. Meanwhile, the Seeds business
focusses on building long-term relationships with farmers through Dhaanya Progressive
Farmers (DPF?) clubs. These initiatives are further strengthened by expert
advisory support provided via. Dr. Vishwas, the Company?s toll-free farmer advisory
helpline, along with outreach through various digital and social media platforms.
Financial Statements
The Company does not have any subsidiary, associate or joint venture
company as on March 31, 2025 and hence is not required to consolidate its financial
statements with any other company.
Credit Ratings
During the year under review, there were no changes in the credit
ratings of the Company. As on March 31, 2025, the Company had a short-term credit rating
of A1+ (Reaffirmed) and a long-term rating of AA+/ Stable (Reaffirmed) by CRISIL Limited
for bank loan facilities aggregating to _ 440 crore. Further, the Company had a short-term
credit rating of A1+ for the Commercial Papers of _ 75 crore.
Particulars of Loans, Guarantees or Investments
During the year under review, the Company has not made any investment.
Further, the Company has not given any loan or corporate guarantee or provided any
security during the year.
Details of loans, guarantees and investments covered under the
provisions of Section 186 of the Act are given in the notes to the Financial Statements.
Related Party Transactions
The Company has formulated a Policy on Related Party Transactions in
accordance with the Act and the SEBI Listing Regulations including any amendments thereto
for identifying, reviewing, approving and monitoring of Related Party Transactions
(RPTs?). During the year under review, the RPT Policy was amended and the said
Policy is available on the Company?s website at https://www. rallis.com/RPTPolicy
During the year under review, the Company also appointed Ernst & Young LLP
(EY?) as an external independent agency to review and validate the RPT
processes and compliances with the applicable provisions as a measure of good governance.
All RPTs are presented to the Audit Committee for review and approval.
Prior omnibus approval of the Audit Committee is obtained on periodic basis for the
transactions which are planned/ repetitive in nature. A statement giving details of all
RPTs entered pursuant to omnibus approval so granted is placed before the Audit Committee
on a quarterly basis for its review. All the RPTs under Ind AS-24 have been disclosed in
Note no. 38 to the Financial Statements forming part of this Integrated Annual Report.
The RPTs entered into during the year under review were on arm?s
length basis, in the ordinary course of business and were in compliance with the
applicable provisions of the Act read with the Rules framed thereunder and the SEBI
Listing Regulations. Further, the Company did not enter into any contracts or arrangements
with related parties in terms of Section 188(1) of the Act and no material related party
transactions were entered into during the year under review. Accordingly, the disclosure
of RPTs as required under Section 134(3)(h) of the Act in Form No. AOC-2 is not applicable
to the Company for FY 2024-25 and hence does not form part of this Integrated Annual
Report.
In terms of Regulation 23 of the SEBI Listing Regulations, the Company
submits details of RPTs as per the prescribed format to the stock exchanges on a
half-yearly basis.
Risk Management
The Company has a comprehensive Risk Management framework that seeks to
minimise the adverse impact on business objectives and capitalise on opportunities. The
Company has implemented a mechanism for risk management and formulated a Risk Management
Policy that is reviewed in line with the SEBI Listing Regulations framework. The Risk
Management Policy was reviewed and amended during the year. The Policy provides for
creation of a risk register, identification of risks and formulating mitigation plans.
Major risks identified by business and other functions are systematically addressed
through mitigation actions on a continuous basis. The risk register is refreshed
periodically to ensure that risks remain relevant at all times and corresponding
mitigation measures are timely and effective so that the risk profile is within the
acceptable tolerance levels. The Risk Management Committee, chaired by an Independent
Director, monitors the risks and their mitigation actions as well as formulating
strategies towards identifying new and emergent risks. Further, the Board is apprised of
any actual/emergent risk that may threaten or impact the long-term plans of the Company.
Such risks are linked to the audit universe and are also covered as a part of the annual
risk-based audit plan.
Details of the risks identified and corresponding mitigation plans are
set out on Pages 24-27 of the Integrated Report.
Internal Financial Controls
The Company's internal financial controls framework is based on the
"three (3) lines of defence model". The Company has laid down Standard Operating
Procedures, policies and authorities to guide the operations of the business. Process
owners are responsible for ensuring compliance with the policies and procedures laid down
by the management. Robust and continuous internal monitoring mechanisms ensure timely
identification of risks and issues. The statutory and internal auditors undertake rigorous
testing of the control environment of the Company. During the year, Ernst & Young
LLP was engaged to perform the defined reviews.
Independence of the Internal Auditor is ensured by way of direct
reporting to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviews the adequacy and
effectiveness of the Company's internal controls environment and monitors the
implementation of the audit recommendations including those relating to strengthening of
the Company's risk management policies and systems. The ultimate objective being a
zero-surprise risk-controlled organisation. These internal financial controls help to put
in place checks on the implementation of the internal financial controls, policies and
procedures that are adopted by the Company for ensuring an orderly and efficient conduct
of its business. These internal financial controls help in safeguarding assets, prevention
and detection of frauds and/or errors, maintaining the accuracy and completeness of the
accounting records. Further details of the internal control systems are provided in the
Management Discussion & Analysis which forms part of the Integrated Annual Report.
Directors? Responsibility Statement
Based on the framework of internal financial controls and compliance
systems established and maintained by the Company, audits conducted by the Internal,
Statutory, Cost and Secretarial Auditors, including audit of the internal financial
controls over financial reporting by the Statutory Auditors and the reviews performed by
Management and the relevant Board Committees, including the Audit Committee, the Board is
of the opinion that the Company?s internal financial controls were adequate and
operating effectively during FY 2024-25.
Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 134(3)(c) and 134(5) of the Act, the
Directors, to the best of their knowledge and ability, confirm that for the year ended
March 31, 2025:
(i) in the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable
accounting standards have been followed and that there are no material departures;
(ii) they have selected such accounting policies and applied them
consistently and made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent, so as to
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company at the end of the
financial year viz., March 31, 2025 and of the profit of the Company for that period;
(iii) they have taken proper and sufficient care for the 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 fraud and other irregularities;
(iv) they have prepared the annual accounts on a going concern basis;
(v) they have laid down internal financial controls to be followed by
the Company and that such internal financial controls are adequate and are operating
effectively; and
(vi) they have devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the
provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems are adequate and operating
effectively.
Governance, Compliance and Ethics
The Governance, Corporate Secretarial and Legal functions of the
Company ensure maintenance of good governance within the organisation. They assist the
business in functioning smoothly by ensuring compliance and providing strategic business
partnership in the areas including legislative expertise, corporate restructuring,
regulatory changes and governance. The Company has also adopted the governance guidelines
on Board effectiveness to fulfill its responsibility towards its stakeholders. At Rallis,
human rights are also an integral aspect of doing business and the Company is committed to
respecting and protecting human rights to remediate adverse human rights impacts that may
be resulting from or caused by the Company?s businesses. In furtherance to this, the
Company has adopted the Business and Human Rights Policy which aligns with the principles
contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Labour Organisations
(ILO), Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the United Nations
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and is consistent with the Tata Code of
Conduct.
The Company has in place an online compliance management system for
monitoring the compliances across its various plants and offices. A compliance certificate
is also placed before the Board of Directors every quarter. In compliance with the SEBI
Listing Regulations, the Corporate Governance Report and the Auditor?s Certificate
form part of this Integrated Annual Report.
Management Discussion & Analysis
The Management Discussion & Analysis as required under the SEBI
Listing Regulations forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report
The Company is committed to addressing the needs of the communities in
which it operates, thereby maximising societal value. Additionally, it conducts its
business in a manner that generates a positive impact and enhances stakeholder value. As
per Regulation 34(2)(f) of the SEBI Listing Regulations, the Business Responsibility &
Sustainability Report depicting initiatives taken by the Company from an environmental,
social and governance perspective which has been assured by KPMG Assurance and Consulting
Services LLP, forms part of this Integrated Annual Report.
Directors and Key Managerial Personnel
Directors:
Appointments:
Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration
Committee (NRC?), the Board approved the appointment of Dr. Gyanendra Shukla
(DIN: 02922133) as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Company for
a period of five (5) years, with effect from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2029 (both
days inclusive). Additionally, Mr. Narain Duraiswami (DIN: 03310642) was appointed as an
Independent Director for a term of five (5) years, with effect from March 1, 2024 to
February 28, 2029 (both days inclusive). These appointments were approved by the
Shareholders of the Company on April 18, 2024, through a special resolution for Mr. Narain
Duraiswami and ordinary resolutions for Dr. Gyanendra Shukla, passed via postal ballot.
Based on the recommendation of the NRC the Board of Directors of the
Company on July 27, 2024, approved the appointment of Mr. S. Padmanabhan (DIN: 00306299)
as an Additional Director (Non-Executive, Non-Independent) with effect from August 1, 2024
and as the Chairman of the Board and the Company with effect from August 30, 2024. The
Shareholders of the Company on September 29, 2024 by way of ordinary resolution passed
through postal ballot, approved the appointment of Mr. S. Padmanabhan as a Director of the
Company.
Cessations:
Mr. Bhaskar Bhat (DIN: 00148778) ceased to be the Director and the
Chairman of the Company with effect from August 30, 2024, as per the retirement age policy
for Directors of the Company.
The Board placed on record its deepest appreciation for Mr. Bhat's
contribution in the success achieved by the Company during his tenure as a Director and
Chairman of the Company.
Re-appointment:
In accordance with the provisions of Section 152 of the Act and in
terms of Article 112(2) of the Articles of Association of the Company, Mr. R. Mukundan
(DIN: 00778253), Non-Executive Director of the Company, retires by rotation at the ensuing
AGM and being eligible, offers himself for re-appointment.
Independent Directors:
Ms. Padmini Khare Kaicker, Dr. C. V. Natraj and Mr. Narain Duraiswami,
Independent Directors of the Company, have given declarations that they meet the criteria
of independence as laid down under Section 149(6) of the Act and Regulation 16(1)(b) of
the SEBI Listing Regulations. In terms of Regulation 25(8) of the SEBI Listing
Regulations, they have confirmed that they are not aware of any circumstance or situation,
which exists or may be reasonably anticipated, that could impair or impact their ability
to discharge their duties with objective, independent judgement and without any external
influence. The Board of Directors of the Company has taken on record the declaration and
confirmation submitted by the Independent Directors after undertaking due assessment of
the veracity of the same. In the opinion of the Board, they fulfill the conditions of
independence as specified in the Act and the Rules made thereunder and are independent of
the Management. There has been no change in the circumstances affecting their status as
Independent Directors of the Company.
The Board is of the opinion that all Directors including the
Independent Directors of the Company possess requisite qualifications, integrity,
expertise and experience in the fields of science and technology, industry experience,
strategy, finance and governance, IT and digitalisation, human resources, safety and
sustainability, etc.
The Independent Directors of the Company have confirmed that they have
enrolled themselves in the Independent Directors? Databank maintained with the Indian
Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA?) in terms of Section 150 of the Act read
with Rule 6 of the Companies (Appointment & Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014,
as amended. They are exempt from the requirement to undertake the online proficiency
self-assessment test conducted by IICA.
Details of Familiarisation Programme for the Independent Directors are
provided separately in the Corporate Governance Report.
During the year under review, the Non-Executive Directors of the
Company had no pecuniary relationship or transactions with the Company, other than sitting
fees, commission and reimbursement of expenses incurred by them for the purpose of
attending meetings of the Board/Committees of the Board.
Key Managerial Personnel (KMP?):
The Board agreed to relieve Mr. Srikant Nair from the services of the
Company, effective April 30, 2025, in view of him joining another Tata Company. The Board
placed on record its appreciation for Mr. Nair?s contribution during his association
with the Company. The Board, on recommendation of the NRC appointed
Ms. Sariga P. Gokul as the Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of
the Company with effect from May 9, 2025.
In terms of the provisions of Sections 2(51) and 203 of the Act, the
following are the KMPs of the Company as on March 31, 2025:
Dr. Gyanendra Shukla, Managing Director & CEO
Ms. Subhra Gourisaria, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Srikant Nair, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer
Procedure for Nomination and Appointment of Directors:
The NRC is responsible for developing competency requirements for the
Board based on the industry and strategy of the Company. The Board composition analysis
reflects in-depth understanding of the Company, including its strategies, environment,
operations, financial condition and compliance requirements.
The NRC is also responsible for reviewing the profile of potential
candidates vis-?-vis the required competencies and meeting potential candidates, prior to
making recommendations of their nomination to the Board.
At the time of appointment, specific requirements for the position
including expert knowledge expected are communicated to the appointee.
The Board reviews the list of core skills, expertise and competencies
of the Board of Directors as required in the context of the businesses and sectors
applicable to the Company which were mapped with each of the Directors on the Board. The
same is disclosed in the Corporate Governance Report forming part of this Integrated
Annual Report.
Criteria for determining Qualifications, Positive Attributes and
Independence of a Director:
The NRC has formulated the criteria for determining qualifications,
positive attributes and independence of Directors in terms of provisions of Section 178(3)
of the Act and Regulation 19 read with Part D of Schedule II to the SEBI Listing
Regulations.
Independence: In accordance with the above criteria, a Director
will be considered as an Independent Director? if he/she meets the criteria for
Independence as laid down in the Act and Rules framed thereunder, as amended and
Regulation 16(1)(b) of the SEBI Listing Regulations.
Qualifications: A transparent Board nomination process is in place
that encourages diversity of thought, experience, knowledge, perspective, age and gender.
It is also ensured that the Board has an appropriate blend of functional and industry
expertise. While recommending the appointment of a Director, the NRC considers the manner
in which the function and domain expertise of the individual will contribute to the
overall skill-domain mix of the Board.
Positive Attributes: In addition to the duties as prescribed under
the Act, the Directors on the Board of the Company are also expected to demonstrate high
standards of ethical behaviour, strong interpersonal and communication skills and
soundness of judgement. Independent Directors are also expected to abide by the Code
for Independent Directors? as outlined in Schedule IV to the Act.
Annual Evaluation of Board Performance and Performance of its
Committees and Directors:
Pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act and the SEBI Listing
Regulations, the Board has carried out an annual evaluation of its own performance,
performance of the Directors as well as the evaluation of the working of its Committees.
The NRC has defined the evaluation criteria, procedure and time schedule for the
Performance Evaluation process for the Board, its Committees and Directors.
The performance of the Board and individual Directors was evaluated by
the Board after seeking inputs from all the Directors. The performance of the Committees
was evaluated by the Board after seeking inputs from the Committee Members.
The criteria for performance evaluation of the Board included aspects
such as Board composition and structure, effectiveness of Board processes, contribution in
the long-term strategic planning, etc. The criteria for performance evaluation of the
Committees included aspects such as structure and composition of Committees, effectiveness
of Committee Meetings, etc. The above criteria are broadly based on the Guidance Note on
Board Evaluation issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
The Chairman of the Board had one-on-one meetings with each Independent
Director and the Chairman of the NRC had one-on-one meetings with the Executive and
Non-Executive, Non-Independent Directors.
ln a separate Meeting, the Independent Directors evaluated the
performance of Non-Independent Directors and performance of the Board as a whole. They
also evaluated the performance of the Chairman taking into account the views of the
Managing Director and Non-Executive Directors. The NRC reviewed the performance of the
Board, its Committees and the Directors. The same was discussed in the Board Meeting that
followed the Meeting of the lndependent Directors and the NRC, at which the feedback
received from the Directors on the performance of the Board and its Committees was also
discussed. The Company follows a practice of implementing each of the observations from
the annual evaluation by calendarising its implementation through the Action Taken Report
which is reviewed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
The Annual Performance Evaluation is conducted in a paperless manner
with documents being securely uploaded and accessed electronically. This has resulted in
saving paper, reducing the cycle time of the process and increasing confidentiality of the
information.
Remuneration Policy
The Company has adopted a Remuneration Policy for the Directors, KMP
and other employees, pursuant to the provisions of the Act and the SEBI Listing
Regulations. The Remuneration Policy is attached as Annexure A which forms part of
this Report.
Board and Committee Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board and its Committees are conducted to
discuss and approve various strategies, policies, financial matters and such other
businesses. A calendar of Board and Committee Meetings to be held during the year was
circulated in advance to the Directors.
a. Details of Board Meetings
During the year under review, seven (7) Board Meetings were held,
details of which are provided in the Corporate Governance Report.
b. Composition of Audit Committee
As on March 31, 2025, the Audit Committee comprised four (4) Members
out of which three (3) were Independent Directors and one (1) was a Non-Executive,
Non-Independent Director. During the year, six (6) Audit Committee Meetings were held,
details of which are provided in the Corporate Governance Report. There have been no
instances during the year when recommendations of the Audit Committee were not accepted by
the Board.
c. Composition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR?)
Committee
During the year under review, the CSR Committee comprised three (3)
Members out of which one (1) was an Independent Director. During the year under review,
two (2) CSR Committee Meetings were held, details of which are provided in the Corporate
Governance Report.
There have been no instances during the year when recommendations of
the CSR Committee were not accepted by the Board.
Details on other committees including their composition, number of
meetings held and terms of reference are included in the Corporate Governance Report.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Company aspires to improve the quality of life of communities [30%
Affirmative Action (AA)] it serves through enhancing their socio-economic conditions by FY
2027-28. For this, the Company is working in and around its manufacturing sites, farmer
connect regions and aspirational districts through focussed interventions in domains of
natural resource conservation, education and skilling, women empowerment, greening,
enhancing tribal and rural lives.
The Company?s programme has created a positive impact in the
community as it has repeat value and the community invites the Company to implement
various initiatives in their locality.
Engaging employee volunteers in CSR activities has always been at the
core. In FY 2024-25, more than 8,208 volunteering hours were contributed by 693 employees.
Further, the Per Capita Volunteering Hours were 5 hours per employee.
The Company has a presence in 4 States (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka
and Telangana) and in the current year, impacted more than 2.52 lakh beneficiaries through
its CSR programmes and spent _ 5.2 crore, the total Project cost of which was _ 24.35
crore with balance contributions largely from Government schemes and from beneficiaries
via Shramdaan.
In the current year, the Company has received various recognitions for
its CSR and AA programmes.
The Company was recognised by Rotary Foundation during the Vibrant
Rotary CSR Conclave and Awards 2024 for its TaRa project under "Community and
Economic development" category.
The Tata Affirmative Action Program (TAAP?) jury
conferred Tata Chemicals Group for "TAAP Jury Award" in 2024 and Unnat gram and
Jal Dhan were recognised as one of the best practices
Under Natural Resource Management, Rallis has focussed on water
conservation through rainwater harvesting (Jal Dhan?), recharging groundwater
and soil conservation. The current year, covered 12 villages from Gujarat and Maharashtra
and harvested 4.76 million cubic meters of rainwater. In Maharashtra, the Company worked
in the aspirational district of Dharashiv and in Red Zone villages from Nashik and
Ahilyanagar.
Under Education, the Company focussed to improve academic performance
of students by providing quality education and capability building of teachers. The
Company has branded its educational intervention as RUBY (Rallis Ujjwal Bhavishya Yojana).
RUBY is spread in 4 States, 87 schools and more than 13,700 students (74% AA). The Company
also works with 3 special children schools.
Under RUBY, focus is on English, Science and Mathematics for students.
To encourage students, Rallis conducts an inter-state Rallis Science, Math and English
competition every February, where topper students from all 4 states participate and
winners are felicitated during finale by Rallis Senior Leadership team.
Under Unnat Gram, the Company focusses on holistic development of
tribal communities through developing livelihood resources, enhancing biodiversity, health
and improvement in education. In the current year, the Company worked in 10 villages from
Gujarat and Maharashtra and impacted more than 4,400 tribals.
Under Saksham gram, Rallis worked in 8 villages in Telangana.
Integrated efforts are made to improve quality of life of the villagers through education,
skill development and livelihood enhancement. The Company engaged 149 families under its
livelihood projects, wherein the families were engaged in animal husbandry, operation of
general shops, transportation business, mobile shop etc. They were able to earn on an
average _ 11,000 per month.
Under TaRa intervention, Rallis focusses to empower women and youth
through enhancing their skills to lead a successful life. In partnership with Light of
Life Trust, Rallis runs two (2) centres in Maharashtra. During the year, 804 trainees were
enrolled. Out of the trained trainees, 89% are gainfully engaged. For supporting in
initiating the home-based business, the Company provided 474 tool kits and arranged for
exposure visits and role model interactions. During the year, more than 400 trainees set
up their own businesses, of which 20 became "job creators" and provided
employment to 20-25 people.
The Company invited NuSocia team to conduct a third-party Impact
assessment. It was seen that RUBY programmes have effectively improved educational
outcomes, marking a vital step towards addressing the socio-economic challenges in the
target villages. Continuous adaptation and evaluation will ensure their sustained success.
The observation for TaRa were also very encouraging. It was seen that there is an
improvement in the social status of women trainees and now they have a say in the family.
Family income has improved and there is demand for the said training programmes.
Under C-Safe, the Company works with the member farmers of identified
Farmer Producer Company (FPC) to improve their farm prosperity through sustainable
agriculture driving farm excellence. Various crop demos were conducted to promote the use
of appropriate machinery, technology and provide digital solutions for increasing the
scale and reach of farmers through farm mechanism. Through capacity building initiatives,
farmers were engaged in exposure visits, training workshops, and field days. These efforts
encouraged them to adopt agri-allied entrepreneurial activities.
The above projects are in accordance with Schedule VII to the Act. The
Annual Report on CSR activities is attached as Annexure B which forms part of this
Report.
The CSR Policy is available on the website of the Company at
https://www.rallis.com/our-commitment/csr.
Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment at
Workplace
The Company firmly believes in providing a safe, supportive and
friendly workplace environment a workplace where our values come to life through
the supporting behaviours. Positive workplace environment and a great employee experience
are integral part of our culture. The Company continues to take various measures to ensure
a workplace free from discrimination and harassment based on gender. The Company educates
its employees on what may constitute sexual harassment and on the procedures to follow in
the event of an incident constituting sexual harassment. The Company has created the
framework for individuals to seek recourse and redressal to instances of sexual
harassment. During the year, the Company conducted various training and sensitisation
sessions on prevention of sexual harassment at workplace for its employees, workmen and
others at various locations. The Company has a Prevention of Sexual Harassment at
Workplace Policy in place to provide clarity around the process to raise such a grievance
and how the grievance will be investigated and resolved. An Internal Committee has been
constituted in line with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention,
Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. During the year, no complaint of sexual harassment
was reported.
The said Policy is available on the website of the Company at
https://www.rallis.com/posh-policy.
Vigil Mechanism and Whistleblower Policy
The Company maintains a robust Whistleblower Policy that ensures
transparency and accountability. Whistleblowers are granted direct access to the
Chairperson of the Audit Committee should they wish to report any concerns related to
unethical behavior, improper practices, fraud, or violations of laws, rules, or
regulations. There have been no instances where individuals have been denied access to the
Chairperson for reporting such concerns. The Company has established dedicated email
addresses, including a third-party helpline, to facilitate the reporting of issues. All
cases reported under the Whistleblower Policy are presented to and reviewed by the Audit
Committee.
Details of the Vigil Mechanism and Whistleblower Policy are made
available on the Company?s website at https://www.rallis.com/ whistleblowerPolicy.
Auditors
(1) Statutory Auditors:
At the 74th AGM of the Company held on June 24, 2022,
pursuant to the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder, B S R & Co. LLP,
Chartered Accountants (BSR?) (Firm Registration No. 101248W/W-100022), were
re-appointed as Statutory Auditors of the Company for a second term of five (5)
consecutive years i.e., from the conclusion of the 74th AGM till the conclusion
of the 79th AGM to be held in the year 2027.
The Audit Report of BSR on the Financial Statements of the Company for
FY 2024-25 forms part of this Integrated Annual Report. The Report does not contain any
qualification, reservation, adverse remark or disclaimer.
(2) Cost Auditors:
The Company is required to maintain cost records as specified by the
Central Government as per Section 148(1) of the Act and the rules framed thereunder and
accordingly, the Company has made and maintained such cost accounts and records.
In terms of Section 148 of the Act read with the Companies (Cost
Records and Audit) Rules, 2014, based on the recommendations of the Audit Committee, the
Board of Directors appointed M/s. D. C. Dave & Co., Cost Accountants (Firm
Registration No. 000611), being eligible to conduct Cost Audit relating to the business of
the Company for the year ending March 31, 2026.
M/s. D. C. Dave & Co. have confirmed that they are free from
disqualification specified under Section 141(3) and proviso to Section 148(3) read with
Section 141(4) of the Act and that their appointment meets the requirements of Section
141(3) (g) of the Act. They have further confirmed their independent status and an
arm?s length relationship with the Company. The remuneration payable to the Cost
Auditors is required to be placed before the Members in a General Meeting for their
ratification. Accordingly, a resolution for seeking Members? ratification for the
remuneration payable to M/s. D. C. Dave & Co. is included in the Notice of the 77th
AGM forming part of this Integrated Annual Report.
(3) Secretarial Auditors:
In terms of Section 204 of the Act and the Companies (Appointment and
Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014, M/s. Parikh & Associates (Firm
Registration No. P1988MH009800), a firm of Company Secretaries in Practice, has been
appointed as Secretarial Auditors of the Company.
The Report of the Secretarial Auditors is enclosed as Annexure C
which forms part of this Report. There has been no qualification, reservation, adverse
remark or disclaimer given by the Secretarial Auditors in their Report.
In accordance with the SEBI Listing Regulations, the Board of the
Company have appointed. M/s. Parikh & Associates, a Peer reviewed firm, as the
Secretarial Auditors of the Company for conducting Secretarial Audit and issue the
Secretarial Audit Report for a term of consecutive five (5) years from Financial Year
April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2030, subject to the approval of the Members of the Company at
the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
Reporting of Frauds by Auditors
During the year under review, the Statutory Auditors, Cost Auditors and
Secretarial Auditors have not reported any instances of frauds committed in the Company by
its officers or employees, to the Audit Committee under Section 143(12) of the Act,
details of which are required to be mentioned in this Report.
Annual Return
Pursuant to Section 92(3) of the Act and Rule 12 of the Companies
(Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 read with Section 134(3)(a) of the Act, the
Annual Return in Form MGT-7 as on March 31, 2025 is available on the Company?s
website at https://www.rallis.com/MGT2025.htm.
Other Disclosures
No significant material orders have been passed by the Regulators
or Courts or Tribunals which would impact the going concern status of the Company and its
future operations.
No applications were made or any proceedings were pending against
the Company under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
No deposits have been accepted from the public during the year
under review and no amount on account of principal or interest on deposits from the public
was outstanding as on March 31, 2025.
There has been no change in the nature of business of the Company
as on the date of this Report.
There were no material changes and commitments affecting the
financial position of the Company between the end of the financial year and the date of
this Report.
Secretarial Standards of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
The Directors have devised proper systems and processes for complying
with the requirements of applicable Secretarial Standards issued by the Institute of
Company Secretaries of India and that such systems were adequate and operating
effectively.
Conservation of Energy, Technology Absorption and Foreign Exchange
Earnings and Outgo
The information on conservation of energy, technology absorption and
foreign exchange earnings and outgo stipulated under Section 134(3)(m) of the Act read
with Rule 8 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is attached as Annexure D which
forms part of this Report.
Particulars of Employees and Remuneration
The information required under Section 197(12) of the Act read with
Rule 5 of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014
is attached as Annexure E which forms part of this Report.
The information required under Rule 5(2) and (3) of the Companies
(Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 forms part of this
Report. Further, the Report and the Accounts are being sent to the Members excluding the
aforesaid statement. In terms of Section 136 of the Act, the said statement will be open
for inspection upon request by the Members.
Any Member interested in obtaining the same may write to the Company
Secretary at investor_relations@rallis.com. None of the employees listed in the said
Annexure is related to any Director/ KMP of the Company.
Acknowledgements
The Directors deeply appreciate and value the dedication, support, hard
work, and commitment of all employees. Their continuous efforts in improving all functions
and areas, along with the efficient utilisation of the Company?s resources, have been
instrumental in achieving sustainable and profitable growth.
The Directors would also like to place on record their appreciation for
the continued co-operation and support received by the Company during the year from
bankers, financial institutions, Government authorities, farming community, business
partners, shareholders, customers and other stakeholders. The Directors look forward to
continuance of the supportive relations and assistance in the future.