Bajaj Finance LTD - ESG Report
Bajaj Finance LTD - ESG Report
Bajaj Finance LTD - ESG Report
09 J
ourney towards Alignment
36-44
with United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (UN SDGs) Preserving and Protecting the
Environment
10 Key ESG Highlights
45-53
Empowering Society
54-64
Customer Obsession
About the cover
At every juncture in business, there’s a trade-off, a balance. Between inclusion and 65-80
increasing profits. Governance and growth. Short-term goals and society. It’s a Human Capital Management
balance we choose to maintain at Bajaj Finance.
Our commitment to sustainability has led us to make some tough choices over the 81-89
years. To conserve the environment by setting up not just solar panels but also Information Security, Cyber
large windmill farms, to digitise so we can save on millions of reams of paper and Security and Fraud Controls
upskill youth in small cities through our in-house teams so we have better control of
Scan to know more
the outcomes.
or 90-98
Sustainability is about finding this fine balance. It’s been deeply intertwined in the Visit our website Stakeholders’ Engagement
fabric of our everyday business for 100 years. www.bajajfinserv.in
Even today, this commitment is rock solid. As we continue to embrace our
responsibility towards communities and the environment.
About the Report
Bajaj Finance Limited (‘BFL’, ‘Bajaj Finance’, the National Guidelines on Responsible Business
‘the Company’) and our subsidiaries (hereby Conduct (NGRBCs) and BRSR requirements
collectively referred to as ‘BFL Group’ or ‘We’) under SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure This Report outlines the
present its Environmental, Social and Governance Requirements) Regulations, 2015, as amended.
(ESG) Report for FY2024. This Report provides Further, certain other initiatives that are covered
approach adopted by BFL
insights on the ESG processes followed by in the Annual Report of the Company and its Group towards:
the Company as it endeavors to deliver on the subsidiaries for FY2024 (available on Company’s
principles of responsible business conduct. website –
https://www.aboutbajajfinserv.com/finance-
The ESG Report primarily provides a holistic view Creating an Creating positive Its
investor-relations-annual-reports) have not
of the key initiatives undertaken by the Company, employee- environmental and Commitment
necessarily been repeated here.
driven by the triple bottom line attributes viz. friendly social outcomes for enhancing
environmental, social, and economic. The Report The ESG philosophy of BFL group aims at workplace through its business customer
also narrates initiatives undertaken by BFL towards adopting sustainable business practices that operations, experience
ESG aspects. Additionally, initiatives and actions ensure long‑term success and have a positive conducted in a
taken by its subsidiaries towards furtherance of impact on the environment and society. responsible, ethical,
ESG objectives have also been provided throughout BFL Group continuously strives to promote and inclusive manner
the Report wherever relevant. Bajaj Finance long‑term sustainable growth in the economy
Limited has also published its BRSR for FY2024 through business initiatives and responsible
which forms part of its Annual Report, in line with corporate citizenship.
37 years
The Company has a diversified lending portfolio across
retail, SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises), and
commercial customers with significant presence in both
of operations
urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate
deposits and offers a variety of financial services Consumer Lending Mortgages
products to its customers.
83.64 million
are: (i) Bajaj Housing Finance Limited (‘BHFL’ or ‘Bajaj
Housing’), which is registered with the National Housing Personal Loan SME Lending
Bank as a Housing Finance Company (HFC); and (ii)
Customers served
Bajaj Financial Securities Limited (‘BFSL’, ‘BFinsec’, ‘Bajaj
Broking’), which is registered with the Securities and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as a Stock Broker and
Gold Loan Auto Financing
Depository Participant.
₹330,615 crore
BFL also has two associate companies: (i) Snapwork
Technologies Private Limited (‘STPL’) and (ii)
Pennant Technologies Private Limited (‘PTPL’). BFL Loan against Securities Rural Lending
Assets under management
acquired a 26.53% stake on a fully diluted basis in
PTPL on 19 January 2024 hence, it has become an
associate company.
4,145 locations
including 2,576 locations in rural/smaller towns Commercial Lending Micro-finance Lending
and villages and operates through 198,250+ active
distribution points across India.
Geographic presence
We foster a culture of
fairness with customers,
transparency with
stakeholders, empathy and
equity with employees, and
inclusion with society.
We continue to follow a
rigorous risk management
process and strive to be fully
compliant with regulations
and laws governing
our businesses.
A Legacy of Responsibility and Entrepreneurship communities and rural areas with skills necessary
to secure employment or take up entrepreneurial
Enabling employability for youth from disadvantaged
For 37 years, we have been steadfast in our commitment opportunities. In FY2024, 19,434 women benefitted from
backgrounds and thereby enabling financial stability is
to create long-term, sustainable value for customers, these initiatives.
an area of focus for us. Our efforts toward this include
employees, the environment, and communities.
skilling and employability programmes and supporting
This commitment reflects the legacy of the larger Bajaj self-employment and entrepreneurial ventures.
More Financial Inclusion with
Group, which, for close to a century, has been built
Our flagship skilling programme, the Certificate
Less Carbon Footprint
on principles of social empowerment, environment Our sustainability journey is interconnected with Bajaj
Programme in Banking, Finance & Insurance (CPBFI),
protection, and contribution to national good. Finance’s journey of continuous transformation in
empowers first-generation graduates from smaller
It is no surprise then that we strive to take this towns to be job ready for the financial services the digital space, the business lines we add and the
responsibility several notches higher with each industry. So far, 53,000 youth have been skilled for expansion of our geographic footprint. With each of these
passing year. employment and enterprise under this programme. initiatives, we are bringing financial inclusion to millions,
About 66% of participants are first-generation graduates, making it more convenient for people to access financial
A key highlight of Bajaj Group’s commitment to services, while simultaneously reducing carbon footprint.
predominantly from Tier 2 or 3 cities; 70% are women.
sustainability in FY2024 was the announcement
of Bajaj Beyond, a new identity for the Group’s CSR FY2024 also saw the collaboration of Bajaj Finserv with We ended FY2024 with a customer franchise of 83.64
programmes. Under this, the Group pledged H 5,000 the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) million and our network reached 4,145 locations with
crore to social impact initiatives over five years, with a under the aegis of the Ministry of Education; the over 198,250 active distribution points. The Bajaj Finserv
strong focus on skill development. This will benefit over initiative enables students to receive joint certification App and Web went through a major upgrade, significantly
two crore youth, enabling them to gain from employment on completing CPBFI training. A similar partnership with expanding products, services and new features. The App
and entrepreneurial opportunities offered by India’s All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will see now has 52.41 million net installs.
growing economy. collaboration in deeper geographies of India. We are on track to create rapid access to financial
At Bajaj Finance, sustainability is a strategically important services, and in doing so, we are mindful of the impact on
priority for the management. It reflects in our business the environment.
strategy, our operating model, products, and processes. Here’s how.
In FY2024, we continued to invest in our
In FY2024, we continued to invest in our Environmental, Environmental, Social and Governance In the last five years, we extended credit to more than
Social and Governance (ESG) framework. We framework. We implemented 209 projects in 19.8 million new-to-credit customers.
implemented 209 projects in FY2024, involving FY2024, involving a spend of K 200.95 crore on Over the past three years, we disbursed loans of more
corporate social responsibility programmes. than H 86,000 crore to over 13.12 million women,
empowering them economically and enhancing their Total emission intensity per crore of Consolidated Total Over 4.44 lakh children benefitted from education
self-reliance. In FY2025, we plan to expand our reach to Revenue from Operations was lower at 0.89 in FY2024 as initiatives alone, of which 17,250 children gained from our
around 18,000 villages, covering 95 districts to support compared to 1.19 in FY2023. digital teaching interventions.
4 lakh women.
The year saw collaborations with various organisations
In FY2024, we introduced tractor financing and micro-
Adopting Emerging Technologies and hospitals in Pune and the wider Maharashtra state
financing to promote financial inclusion in rural locations. to Transform Lives to provide financial assistance to children with heart
Transformation for sustainability is interlinked to digital conditions, cancer, cleft lips/palates, Type 1 diabetes
Our Rural Lending and Gold Loans business with an AUM
transformation. This needs a deep understanding of and epilepsy.
of H 28,415 crore, grew 18% over last year.
emerging technologies.
Separately, in the last three years we disbursed over Staying Accountable and
₹ 58,000 crore to SMEs and over ₹ 2,020 crore to the We are investing in data, computing, AI, cyber security,
health and wellness sector. converging technologies and leveraging the India digital Compliant
stack such as UPI, Account Aggregator and ONDC. With We foster a culture of fairness with customers,
To reduce impact of our operations on the environment, this, we are moving towards digital-led sustainability. transparency with stakeholders, empathy and equity with
in the last three years over H 18 crore was disbursed employees, and inclusion with society.
to fund over 5,100 solar panels. In last three years, Some tech-driven initiatives include using cloud-
consumption of paper was reduced by approximately based virtual servers to increase energy efficiency We continue to follow a rigorous risk management
5,050 million sheets, saving around 6 lakh trees. and data security, E-agreements and OTP-based process and strive to be fully compliant with regulations
agreements, digital KYC, digital EMI cards, paperless and laws governing our businesses.
We supported clean mobility and lower emissions in loans, dissemination of insurance, extended warranty,
transportation by financing over 54,000 Electric Vehicles comprehensive asset care policies and bureau reports by Measurable Strides towards a
(EVs), disbursing over H 700 crore. To empower the partners through a digital medium.
underprivileged and underserved segments of society Sustainable Future
in the past three years, we financed more than 399,000 E-mandate for EMI repayment now contributes to nearly At Bajaj Finance, our sustainability goals are built into our
three-wheeler passenger vehicles, disbursing over 59% of new business. mid-to-long term business plan. While a good deal has
H 9,700 crore. Deploying emerging technologies is also giving us a real been accomplished in FY2024, we are excited about the
competitive advantage. It enables sustainable changes times to come.
Other environment-friendly initiatives included the
adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for inter-office shuttle at scale, makes our processes faster, transactions more We thank our Board, our customers, our partners
services, use of ozone-friendly refrigerants, drawing secure and customer experiences better. and our 53,000 employees for being part of our
around 5.90 lakh units of clean energy produced by sustainability journey.
rooftop solar panels at our offices, procuring recycled Inclusion in Health and
paper to meet 80% of our requirement and planting of Education
over 70,000 saplings.
We have supported projects that have a lasting impact on
children, in areas such as health, education, protection Sanjiv Bajaj Rajeev Jain
54,000+ and inclusion of Persons with Disability. Chairman Managing Director
Conduct and govern business with Provide access to relevant and Strive to adopt environmental Promote social welfare activities
integrity in a manner that is ethical, affordable financial products and practices and processes that for inclusive growth, equitable
transparent and accountable services that meet the needs of minimise/eliminate the adverse development, and well-being of
larger society impact on environment due to society
company operations
Information Security,
Human Capital Stakeholders’
Customer Obsession Cyber Security and
Management Engagement
Fraud Controls
Innovate/invest in products, Create a thriving, safe and Adopt robust information security, Engage with relevant stakeholders
technologies and processes that inclusive workplace for employees cyber security and fraud control for enhancing the sustainable and
enhance customer experience and provide merit-based practices responsible business practices
and promote professional, fair and opportunities for professional
transparent dealings development and growth
End Hunger, Achieve Food Security Make Cities and Human Settlements
11
02 and Improved Nutrition and Promote Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable
Sustainable Agriculture
01 Ensure Sustainable Consumption and
17 12
Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote PARTNERSHIPS
NO
POVERTY Production Patterns
03 16
FOR THE
GOALS 02
Well-Being for all at all ages PEACE,
JUSTICE
ZERO
HUNGER
AND STRONG
INSTITUTIONS
03 Take Urgent Action to Combat
15 13
Ensure Inclusive and Equitable Quality LIFE ON
GOOD
HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING
Climate Change and its Impacts
LAND
04 Education and Promote Lifelong
Learning Opportunities for all
14 04 Conserve and Sustainably use the
QUALITY
LIFE BELOW
WATER
EDUCATION
14 Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for
Achieve Gender Equality and Empower
05 Sustainable Development
All Women and Girls
13 05
CLIMATE
GENDER
ACTION
EQUALITY Protect, Restore and Promote Sustainable
Ensure Availability and Sustainable
use of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Sustainably
06 Management of Water and 06
12 15 Manage Forests, Combat Desertification,
Sanitation for all RESPONSIBLE CLEAN
CONSUMPTION
AND PRODUCTION
WATER AND
SANITATION and Halt and Reverse Land Degradation
and Halt Biodiversity Loss
Ensure Access to Affordable, 11 07
SUSTAINABLE
07 Reliable, Sustainable, and Modern CITIES AND
COMMUNITIES
AFFORDABLE
AND CLEAN
• Board-approved Responsible and Sustainable • Strong governance model for debt management − Consolidated gross NPA at 0.85% and net NPA
Business Conduct Policy consisting, the essence of services’ practices. at 0.37% are amongst the lowest in the industry.
ESG and NGBRCs.
• Code of Ethics and Personal Conduct for employees • Policy for Compensation of Key Managerial
• Board-approved ESG Committee led by Executive across BFL Group. Personnel (KMP) and Senior Management contains
director and consisting of senior management. provisions regarding deferral of variable pay as well
• Two Internal Ombudsman (IOs) responsible for dealing
as principles of malus and clawback provision.
• Voluntary constitution of a Customer Service with customer concerns and complaints.
Committee of the Board, to strengthen the • Board-approved policies are reviewed every
• Board-approved framework for good corporate
customer experience, engagement, and year to ensure consistency with the Regulatory/
governance for subsidiaries.
monitoring process. Operational changes.
• The Risk Management Committee and the Board of the
• Robust internal controls system across all • Adoption of the Group’s Tax Governance Policy.
Company reviews ESG matters and are updated with
processes, units, and functions, driven by various
progress made on various ESG related initiatives at • More than 90% of BFL group employees completed
well-formulated procedures and policies.
the Company. mandatory course training (ESG, Code of Ethics
• Dedicated compliance function headed by a Chief and Personal Conduct, POSH, KYC/AML, Data
• Prudent and responsible business conduct:
Compliance Officer (CCO), which acts as second privacy, cyber security etc.)
line of defence. − CRAR of 22.52% versus regulatory stipulation
of 15%.
• Comprehensive risk management framework across
the organisation and across all risks, including − Strong Asset Liability Management (ALM) with
ESG risk. cumulative positive gap across all time buckets.
• Provided financing access to more than 13.12 million • Launched Micro-finance business operations
Reaching Financial women borrowers amounting more than ₹ 86,000 in over 100 branches across Uttar Pradesh
crore during last 3 years. and Karnataka.
Services to Millions of
• Rural Lending and Gold Loans business closed FY2024 • Higher Fixed Deposit (FD) rates for senior citizens
Indians and Providing with AUM of ₹ 28,415 crore, registering a growth of - additional interest of 0.40%. Till date over 8.3 lakh
Sustainable and Safe 18% over the previous year. FDs placed.
Products and Services • Enabled livelihood of individuals through • Distribution of the Micro Insurance Products to
three‑wheeler passenger vehicle financing of more increase insurance penetration across rural and
• Provided financial services by expanding the than ₹ 9,700 crore and SME lending of more than semi-urban geographies.
company’s presence in 4,145 locations across ₹ 58,000 crore during last 3 years.
• Over the last 3 years, we have disbursed more than
the country, including 2,576 in rural/smaller
• Disbursed over ₹ 2,020 crore across more than ₹ 1,340 crore through more than 2.2 lakh loans for
towns and villages and financed approximately
3.58 lakh loans towards medical procedures and educational purposes.
83.64 million customers.
health and wellness during last 3 years.
• Extended financing to over 19.8 million
• Launched tractor financing in FY2024 for promoting
new-to-credit customers during last 5 years.
financial inclusion - AUM of tractor financing stood at
₹ 26 crore.
• Procured 80% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) • Ramped up the adoption of environment-friendly
certified recycled papers at BFL during FY2024. electric vehicles (EVs) for inter-office shuttle services.
Preserving & Protecting
• Financed more than 54,000 e-vehicles and disbursed • Planted over 70,000 saplings in FY2024, taking the
Environment over ₹ 700 crore during the year, thereby enabling total count of saplings planted to 345,000+ till date.
customers to access environment-friendly modes
• Aligning with the highest standards of energy
• Green initiative with a continuous focus on of transport.
efficiency, and reduced environmental impact
reducing consumption of papers through digital • Facilitated access to environment friendly renewable – BFL supports acquisition of 5-star rating and
initiatives like digital agreements, digital KYC, digital energy sources by financing solar panels - disbursed above devices.
communication, etc. more than ₹18 crore through more than 5,100 loans in
• Extensive awareness campaigns to promote
• During last three years, BFL group reduced last three years.
sustainable living and practices amongst employees
consumption by around 5,050 million sheets of • Generated over 5.90 lakh units of solar energy through and other stakeholders.
paper, saving approximately 600,000 trees installed capacity of 626.80 KW of rooftop solar power
(1 tree = 8,333 sheets of paper). plants across 7 locations.
with colleges and training partners to deliver expert- • Sector-Specific or Need-Based training - 38,966
designed training modules, supported by over 240 youth have been benefitted from these programmes.
Empowering industry-experienced trainers across 22 states • Support projects linked to child health, child
Society and 410 colleges nationwide. This initiative has education, child protection and inclusion for PwDs:
transformed the lives of over 53,000 students to date.
33,537 were supported through
• In FY2024, 209 projects were implemented • 19,434 women empowered through skilling initiatives
Health interventions
with a CSR Spend of ₹200.95 crore - towards which focuses on earning a sustainable income and
areas of Skilling, Child Education, Child Health, enhance their economic independence.
444,537 benefitted from
Child Protection, and Inclusion for Persons Education‑related initiatives
• Empowering individuals with disabilities to generate
with Disabilities. income and enhance their economic independence - 14,582 supported under Children protection
• Our flagship programme, Certificate Programme in 9,057 PwDs have benefitted from the programmes.
99,189 Persons with Disabilities
Banking, Finance & Insurance (CPBFI) collaborates were supported
• Provisioned a ‘Dynamic Missed Call Service’ for getting • Dedicated debt management service desks across
life-stage-based details of the latest relationships the top 38 branches to address debt related queries
Customer with BFL. of walk-in customers. DMSCA (Debt Management
Obsession • Introduction of DIY home loan application process Services Change Agent) training programme for its
by BHFL to transform customer experience and the agents using four modules.
• Established a citizen charter framework to protect journey is digital and seamless. • Monitoring transactional customer satisfaction
interest of customers. • Launched BFSLTRADE a mobile app, along with (CSAT) scores across all channels for multiple
• Key Fact Statement (KFS) offered to all customers, a SAMADHAN platform through BFSL, offering service interactions.
both digital and non-digital, across retail and customer services via self-help Q&As and ticket-based • Conducted various consumer awareness campaigns
MSME products at pre-sanction stage. KFS and query resolution. and educational videos:
various collaterals made available in 20 vernacular • Business transformation efforts focused on building an
ervice-related
S oan Repayment
L
languages. ‘omnichannel’ model to deliver significant improvement
Campaigns: Campaigns:
• Initiation of multilingual response for queries in customer experience.
received on social media platform in various • ‘9 am to 9 pm Calling’ initiative is a consent-based − Life Easy With NACH − Just Ask For It
regional languages. calling system, launched for queries received on social − Time Pe EMI − No Mukti Only Nuskaan
• Customer communications through IVR and mobile platform which helped improve customer satisfaction − Coverage Hai Zaroori − Loan Ka The End
apps, are available to customers in English and and turn-around-time for resolution. − Know Your 1st EMI − Wait Nahi, Update Karo
vernacular languages. − What’s The Matter − Har Koi Bajaj Nahi
• Implemented over 25+ service modules and more than
− Doori Hai Zaroori From
• Established localised presence at 4 locations to 325 service processes on both the App and Website.
Loan Settlement
ensure quick response and resolution to customer • Centralised call recording and monitoring − Har Time EMI On Time
complaints and escalation received from regulators. infrastructure for outsourced debt management − Charges For What
services agency networks.
Human Capital
Management
• Recognised by Great Place to Work™ as India’s Best • Spectrum policy - provides several benefits to women • In FY2024, over 18,000 employees were
Workplaces™ Building a Culture of Innovation by All employees relating to safety, cab facility, travel policy, recognised for their outstanding performance and
(2023-2024) and India’s Best Workplaces™ in BFSI flexible working hours, preferential transfer policy, significant contribution.
(2023-2024). maternity-linked benefits, crèche benefits, etc.
• DAAN Utsav – an employee engagement initiative
• Promotion of equal employment opportunities and • Launched ‘Pure Life’ initiative focused on physical, for the well-being of the society.
nurtures diversity amongst BFL Group employees. mental, and emotional wellness for all employees:
• Total expenditure on learning and development by
− 1-to-1 counselling – More than 582 employees
• Implementation of Gender-Neutral Prevention of the BFL Group in FY2024 was over ₹ 53 crore, which
benefitted.
Sexual Harassment (POSH) Policy. translates to approximately ₹ 9,800 on average
per employee.
• 14 cultural anchors which form the backbone of − Walk-a-thon – more than 70,000 saplings
our culture. were planted to celebrate achievements of the
• Around 83% of the female employees and
employees who completed the set goals.
90% of the male employees during the year
• RISE - (Respectful, Inclusive & Safe Work • In FY2024, we enabled an emergency financial participated in at least one of the functional/skill
Environment) awareness series - 93 RISE assistance through ‘i-Care programme’ – over 230 upgradation trainings.
sessions were conducted across corporate and employees availed assistance of over ₹ 13 crore.
branch offices. • Registered more than 6 lakh training hours across
BFL Group employees.
• Robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions. • Robust framework/policy on fraud risk
Information Security, • Data security and information technology security
management in place, along with a pro-active
fraud detection process.
Cyber Security and systems compliant with ISO 27001:2013, 22301:2012.
Fraud Controls • Regular internal security audits, vulnerability
• Sitti Pitti Gul: awareness campaigns
for stakeholders:
assessments and penetration testing of its systems,
• ‘Information Technology Strategy Committee’ − Bano Cyber Smart
products and practices affecting user data, in
consisting of Board members and Senior − Settle Karna Hai Loan
compliance with ISO 27001 standards.
management. Well-established information security − Pehle Pucho Aap Kaun
framework, cyber security policy, data privacy • Instituted a formal policy for incident management. − Fake Loan Ka Danger Zone
policy and Business Continuity Policy (BCP).
• Strong IT governance structure. • Clenched the esteemed title of ‘Digital Enterprise
• Dedicated information security, cyber risk, and of India – BFSI’ at The Economic Times CIO
fraud control unit. Awards 2024.
• Conducted ESG awareness campaigns for our − Part of the panel discussion on ‘Gaps in
stakeholders to encourage them for upholding the ESG Implementation of Fair Lending Practices by
Stakeholders’ values, and principles in their dealings. NBFC’s’ and ‘Handling of complaints related to
Engagement • As on 31 March 2024, more than 16,000 participants
credit information & challenges and Action plan’.
are DRA-certified with the support of 79 certified − Our Internal Ombudsman was invited to give
facilitators as per IIBF norms. a session on the ‘Effectiveness of Internal
• Implemented Corporate Communication Policy that
Ombudsman Process’, organised by RBI.
defines the approach to communicate with media. • Well-crafted Stakeholders Relationship Committee
in place to review the grievances of debenture and − During the year, BFL organised awareness and
• Ensured one of the highest standards of business
deposit holders, in addition to the shareholders of education programmes for customers/general
information disclosure amongst financial services
the Company. public/students and for DMS agents/agencies in
companies in India.
coordination with RBI.
• Engagement with regulators:
• The ‘Samvaad – (Dialogues to Success)’ was
organised in-person for 22 days; over 1,500 − Participation in Nodal Officers’ meetings and
retailers participated and interacted live with the regional conferences, Customer Awareness
senior management physically. Townhalls and Outreach Programmes.
CORPORATE
stakeholders is paramount.
It defines who we are as an
organisation and shapes how
we do business every day.
Sandeep Jain
GOVERNANCE
Chief Operating Officer
& Chief Financial Officer
UN SDGs Aligned
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors 8 1
The Board comprises members with diverse experience Business Transformation Financial Services
and Strategy
and skills, such that it best serves the governance
Board Gender Average Tenure of 6 Directors
and strategic needs of the Company. The Directors
are persons of eminence in areas such as profession,
Diversity (%) Board of Directors 8 Directors
business, industry, finance, law, administration, research,
banking, etc. and bring with them experience/skills which
89 4
further contribute to enhance the performance of the
Technology Risk, Assurance and
Board. The Directors are selected purely based on merit
and Innovation Internal Controls
with no discrimination on race, colour, religion, gender, 11 3
or nationality. The eminent Directors play a pivotal role in 7 Directors 9 Directors
driving our success with their field expertise, adding value
to the Board’s performance. 2
Company’s governance and strategic needs. For more detailed information regarding the Board, skills, expertise,
More than 10 years
and competence of our Board, please refer to our Corporate
(2 NEDs) Governance section of the Annual Report. Page 62
Leadership Team BFL has established an executive ESG The Committee is responsible for driving
Our work ethics, entrepreneurial mindset, and high committee, led by Executive Director, BFL’s ESG agenda and providing strategic
ethical standards define our leadership team, comprising comprising key stakeholders including the direction, considering relevant risks and
of experienced professionals who play a pivotal role Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and heads of Tax, opportunities. We have devised a Responsible
in emerging BFL Group as one of the most diversified Legal, Compliance, Operations, Information and Sustainable Business Conduct Policy and
and rapidly expanding financial services companies in Technology, Risk, Human Resource, Corporate an Environment Policy framework to align our
the country. Secretarial and representative from subsidiaries ESG goals and strategy with ESG standards and
and Group companies for implementing and guidelines as per relevant applicable laws.
monitoring ESG-related aspects.
Board’s ESG
Oversight
More details are available on the website at During FY2024, the Risk Management Two (2) meetings of the ESG Committee were
https://www.aboutbajajfinserv.com/finance- Committee and the Board of the Company held during the year and a presentation to the
people-and-committees-leadership-team reviewed ESG matters and were provided with Board of Directors of the Company was made
updates on progress made on various ESG- on overall ESG strategy.
related initiatives at the Company. The Board of
Directors and the Risk Management Committee
are apprised of the Company’s sustainability
approach, targets, and key initiatives periodically.
ESG Committee
A A pillar of our corporate governance philosophy C Our Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC), A BFL has a separate Code of Conduct (CoC) for
is our focus on ethics. The Board-approved periodically reports significant incidents to Directors and Senior Management. The CoC
Code of Ethics and Personal Conduct (CoEPC) the Managing Director (MD) and the Audit mandates that our top leadership shall observe
encompasses a culture of good work and integrity Committee, ensuring continuous monitoring the highest standards of ethical conduct and
norms. This code articulates the standards of of ethical behaviour. Key components of integrity and shall work to the best of their
professional conduct and ethics, we expect our CoEPC include a commitment to health, ability and judgement.
our employees to imbibe and guides them to safety, and the environment, alongside a focus
adopt practices that promote anti-bribery, anti- to comply with environmental regulations
money laundering, insider trading, discrimination, and standards applicable to its operations B All the Board members and Senior Management
confidentiality of information, conflict of interest, to minimise environmental pollution and to personnel have affirmed compliance with
whistle blower, environment, health and safety contribute to environmental protection. the Code for the year ended 31 March
among other aspects linked to ethics. 2024. A declaration to this effect signed by
the Managing Director forms a part of the
Annual Report.
B The Company has mechanisms in place to ensure D Employee performance appraisal systems
effective implementation of its Code of Ethics integrate compliance/Code of Conduct.
and Personal Conduct. The comprehensive Code Disciplinary actions taken on employees
includes provisions for Disciplinary Action Policy during the financial year impacts performance
and Whistle-blower Policy, allowing directors, evaluation/rating of an employee. Disciplinary
employees, business/vendor partners, and other actions are categorised as follows:
stakeholders to report grievances, including a. Counselling, b. Warning, c. Warning and
harassment, fraud, unethical behaviour, and Incentive Docking, d. Separation
process/policy violations to designated personnel (Termination/Resignation).
in the Company and its subsidiaries.
• We are focused on ensuring symmetry of information in To promote Environment, Social, and Governance
line with the principles of fair and uniform disclosures. (ESG) goals, the BFL has linked performance pay
After the end of each quarter, the Company voluntarily of senior management team members, including
provides provisional key financial metrics of that that of Executive Directors and Managing Director
quarter to the stock exchanges within seven days from to various critical initiatives and organisational
the end of the quarter. objectives such as innovation, digitalisation,
keeping attrition under control, adherence to
• The senior management at BFL conducts open appropriate compliances, sustainable lending,
Townhall sessions, Confluence, as forums to engage customer experience, as applicable.
with all employees every quarter to share the financial
performance of the Company, updates on business, as
• All practices at BFL Group maintain high standards of
well as new initiatives undertaken in HR, operations,
governance, which in certain cases extends beyond
and technology, amongst other things. Employees
legal requirements.
can also make suggestions, raise concerns, and seek
direct responses from the senior management on any
queries/concerns.
• BFL has implemented the RBI introduced, Internal e. Fair Practices Code in English and all
Ombudsman (IO) Scheme to deal with customer vernacular languages;
concerns and complaints. The Scheme is extended to
f. Employee Charter on Human rights;
NBFCs on a selective basis in which the IO at the apex
of the NBFC shall independently review the resolution g. Equal Employment Opportunity and
provided by the NBFC, in case there are any wholly Non‑Discrimination Policy;
or partially rejected complaints. BFL has appointed
h. Compensation policy for Directors, Key Managerial
two IOs, who will independently review the resolution
Personnel and Senior Management;
provided by the Company.
i. Data Privacy Policy;
• On an ongoing basis, the Company through its
familiarisation programme, endeavours to keep the j. Responsible and Sustainable Business
Board including Independent Directors abreast with Conduct Policy;
matters relating to the industry in which Company
k. Code of Ethics and Personal Conduct;
operates, its business model, risk metrics, its
mitigation and management, governing regulations, l. Deputation and Advisory Policy for employees
information technology including cyber security, within group;
their roles, rights and responsibilities and major
m. Tax Governance Policy;
developments and updates on the Company and
group, etc. n. Employee Health and Safety Manual;
• Adoption of key governance policies in line with • Board-approved policies are reviewed every
the best practices, which are made available to year to ensure consistency with the Regulatory/
stakeholders for downloading/viewing from the Operational changes.
Company’s website. These include:
also includes system and process audits in respect of various strategic, business, compliance and regulatory
all critical processes. The Internal Audit department matters. During FY2024 following information was
and compliance function review the business unit’s provided to the Board: (i) Risk management system,
adherence to internal processes and procedures as well Risk Management Policy and strategy followed by
as to regulatory and legal requirements providing timely the Company (ii) Review of various policies framed
feedback to management for corrective action, including by Company from time to time covering, amongst
minimising the design risk, if any. others, Code of Conduct for Directors and Senior
Management, Whistle-blower policy, Fair Practices
he internal audit function provides an assurance to
T
Code, IT-related policies, Risk Management policy, etc.
the Audit Committee/Board of Directors and the Senior
Management on the quality and effectiveness of the • Financial incentives incorporate risk management
BFL’s internal controls, risk management and governance metrics wherein employees have their bonus/
related systems and processes. At the beginning of incentives linked to factors such as business/function
each financial year, an audit plan is rolled out after goal achievement, department performance and
company performance which include parameters
approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee Risk Culture such as customer complaints, portfolio performance,
on a quarterly basis reviews the internal audit reports
ajaj Finance promotes a strong risk culture that
B compliance and fraud controls as applicable, apart from
based on the approved plan, which includes significant
is embedded across the organisation. In order to the business-related goals.
audit observations, corrective and preventive actions.
promote and enhance an effective risk culture
The Audit Committee of the Board also reviews the • Comprehensive training on risk management principles,
throughout the organisation, the Company has adopted
performance of the audit and compliance functions and including a dedicated 15-day training programme for
following strategies:
reviews the effectiveness of controls and compliance new hires in the Risk Management department. Ongoing
• T
he Board is presented with relevant information on fraud detection exercises and training for employees
with regulatory guidelines. In the opinion of Board and
various matters related to the working of the Company, in customer-facing roles. Awareness programmes
the senior management, internal control systems are well
especially those that require deliberation at the highest for dealers/partners focused on fraud prevention.
placed and work in a satisfactory manner.
level. Presentations are also made to the Board by Awareness through email communications.
re-Audit Committee meetings of the Committee’s Chair
P key members of Senior Management on important • Employees are empowered to proactively identify and
with statutory auditors, internal auditor and members matters from time to time. Directors have separate and report potential risks within the organisation. Report
of executive management who are the process owners. independent access to the officers of the Company. suspicious activity process (RSA) has been designed
Independent discussions by the Audit Committee In addition to items required to be placed before the to report suspected fraud cases to Risk & Fraud Control
members with Chief Internal Auditor without presence of Board for its noting and/or approval, information is Unit (RCU) for investigation. Employees are incentivised
Managing Director and Senior Management is held on a provided on various significant items. In terms of for highlighting confirmed frauds prior to disbursal.
quarterly basis. quality and importance, the information supplied by • The Company has in place measures which allows
Management to the Board is far ahead of the mandate continuous improvement in risk management practices
FL’s Risk Management, Operational Risk Management,
B
under the Companies Act and SEBI Listing Regulations. through the involvement of employees in structured
Information Technology and Cyber Security practices
The Independent Directors of the Company met on feedback process.
have been already elaborated in the Annual Report
20 March 2024 and expressed their satisfaction on the • Incorporating risk criteria in the product development
FY2024 at Page 32.
quality, quantity and timeliness of flow of information or approval process. Each business/product of the
between the Company’s Management and the Board. Company starts operations only after the Product
Pursuant to the various regulatory requirements and programme (Toll gate document) is approved and rolled
considering business needs, the Board is apprised on out by all relevant internal stakeholders.
Internal Controls the processes set for these functions are complied with Compliance is a fundamental aspect of our business
and gaps identified, if any, are set right on regular basis. operations. Compliance philosophy at BFL is strict
BFL has robust internal controls system in place, driven
The control functions implement, review and monitor the adherence to laws, regulations, and ethical standards
through various procedures and policies which are
standards and lay down policies and procedures by which to maintain the trust of the stakeholders i.e., regulators,
reviewed and tested periodically, across processes, units
the functions manage risks including compliance with customers, investors and employees.
and functions. Our risk and credit teams have inbuilt
regulatory guidelines and applicable laws, adherence to
processes to identify the existing and probable risks
operational controls and relevant standards of conduct.
and to mitigate identified risks. Senior management
also monitors the mitigating measures. The Company
has various committees including Risk Management
Committee and the Asset and Liability Committee, with
participation from various functions, which are designed Regulatory Compliance
to review and oversee critical aspects of BFL’s operations. BFL is committed to comply with all applicable laws,
regulations, and guidelines set by regulatory authorities.
Our internal controls mechanism consists of three lines
of defence: Customer Protection
BFL prioritises the protection of its customers’ interests and
data. Robust data protection measures maintained, and
Internal Operations
1st First privacy laws and regulations are strictly adhered to. BFL
Management and
Line of Defence strives to provide fair and transparent financial products and
Management Controls
services, ensuring that its customers make informed decisions.
Our compliance
Ethical Conduct
philosophy
BFL expects all its employees to uphold the
2nd Second Independent Risk and revolves around highest ethical standards in their dealings
Line of Defence Compliance Function the following with customers, partners, and colleagues.
principles:
Risk Management
BFL has implemented robust risk management
Third Independent Internal frameworks and processes to identify, assess,
3rd
Line of Defence Audit Function and mitigate risks associated with our operations.
BFL has dedicated control functions for testing the Employee Training and Awareness
design and efficiency of Internal Control Over Financial Comprehensive training programs have been rolled out
Reporting (ICOFR) on regular basis and timely to enhance the compliance knowledge and awareness
remediation of control deficiencies identified, if any. of our employees.
Further, BFL monitors Information and Technology
General Controls (ITGC) on a periodic basis. The Company To further strengthen the second line of defence, the Company has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO).
has formed specialised units within IT and operations Under CCO’s supervision, the compliance function is, among others, responsible for identification and assessment of
functions for carrying out regular checks to ensure that compliance risks, provide guidance on related matters and monitor and test compliances across the organisation.
offerings. These capabilities have given the confidence debt management. Capabilities like OCR-enabled
Debt Management to commit significant investments to further the use of structuring of unstructured data, providing new sets
BFL focuses on a debt management strategy to ensure these new domains. Here are some examples: of variables for further refining risk models and making
that its delinquent debt portfolio is kept at minimal levels. these more granular to capture specific nuances to
It accords debt management an important place in its • In addition to traditional credit bureau data, BFL is now
enable going deeper in geographies.
portfolio management strategy; investing in its debt deeply integrated with the Account Aggregator (AA)
management service structure, service organisation, ecosystem for leveraging consent-based information • The developments in data infrastructure have enabled
processes, and training of employees and agencies, and building real time underwriting capabilities to the risk and process units to run real time controls
with strict adherence to compliance requirements provide frictionless customer experience. across multiple decisioning and operational processes
and controllership by leveraging technology to follow to further strengthen the credit and operations risk
• BFL has also developed capabilities of multi-
a non-intrusive collection mechanism. We follow management framework. By democratising analytics,
bureau framework using multiple bureaus as well as
a strong governance model for debt management data science and centres of excellence across multiple
combination of Consumer, Commercial & MFI bureaus
services’ practices and ensure strict adherence to the businesses and functions, we are constantly fostering
for a complete credit view of customers enabling
regulatory and internal policies, code of conduct, and fair a culture of data orientation and analysis to address
effective credit decisions.
practice code. everyday issues. This is being done by providing
• BFL continues to expand its suite of statistical models multiple data science training and implementation of
Technologies and Analytics for risk management across all stages of the credit practitioner programmes.
lifecycle — acquisition, account management and
We have been continuously investing and adopting
various evolving technologies and analytical tools like
Big Data, Cloud Computing and Open-Source software
like Python and Graph database technology. This has
enabled access to sophisticated statistical techniques to
solve complex business and risk problems — and, hence,
taken analytics and portfolio insights to a level where
solutions are much more nuanced and specific. The
Company continues to develop and implement multiple
machine learning models. This along with capabilities like
OCR, unstructured to structured data, etc. are getting
integrated with business processes.
Growth in profit after tax (PAT) of 26% in Liquidity Coverage Ratio 169% 85% 192% 70%
2
FY2024 from ₹ 11,508 crore to ₹ 14,451 crore.
At the heart of our business lie tech-driven innovation Commercial Lending Micro-finance Lending
and financial inclusion. Over 17 years, Bajaj Finance has
enabled India’s growing mass affluent and middle-class
population to fulfil aspirations by providing access to an
extensive range of financial solutions. Since inception,
the Company has leveraged technology to launch 26
product lines and 51 product variants for retail, MSME and
198,250+ 2,576 Public and Corporate Partnerships and
commercial consumers, with major product innovations Deposits Services
active distributions presence in rural/
such as the EMI card and Flexi. points smaller towns and
villages
BFL is present in 4,145 locations across the country, including 2,576 in rural/smaller towns and villages.
Geographical expansion, large customer franchise and adoption of digital technology continue to be critical pillars
of the Company’s growth.
Supporting SMEs
We address the working capital and term loan
requirements of professionals, and relatively Education goals
underserved SMEs and MSMEs. Thus, enabling growth Educational loan is a key component of our EMI financing
and sustainability of these critical segments. More solutions, with customised offerings addressing our
than ₹ 58,000 crore disbursed in last three years customers’ education loan requirements. Over the last
for SME Lending. three years, we have disbursed more than
₹ 1,340 crore through more than 2.2 lakh loans for
educational purposes.
PRESERVING AND
continue to focus on minimising
our ecological footprint through
sustainable practices such
as reduction in use of paper
though digitalisation, waste
reduction, and generating and
PROTECTING THE
using renewable energy.
Anupam Sirbhaiya
ENVIRONMENT
Chief Human Resources &
Administration Officer
As a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), BFL Our Environmental policy briefly Navigating ESG: A Roadmap for
maintains a streamlined approach to resource utilisation,
characterised by minimal consumption of raw materials.
highlights the Company’s best Sustainable Growth
BFL is not engaged in production of tangible goods. practices towards
Bajaj Finance Limited is dedicated to minimising
BFL’s core focus revolves around providing financial
its environmental and social impact and fostering
solutions to address diverse needs of its customers.
sustainable practices. As a part of our commitment,
BFL Group fosters a conservation-oriented culture that
Compliance we have established a guide for our operations towards
involves vigilant monitoring of resource consumption and with applicable social and eco-friendly practices.
encourages innovative approaches to reduce reliance on environmental laws
natural resources. and regulations a. For all lines of businesses, we do not finance:
essential to evaluate and manage both Scope 1 and opening new offices and branches to accommodate our
Scope 2 emissions, considering various aspects of the growing talent and meet the demands of our expanding Scope 2
company’s operations. business, has led to an increase in our environmental
footprint and energy usage. However, it has also resulted
Reporting Boundary in a reduction in the overall emission intensity. Scope 3
The reporting boundary covers BFL and its subsidiaries - Scope 1 Emissions: includes owned and operationally
pan-India location of operations. GHG Emission
controlled DG sets, Company-owned cars, refrigerant
31%
used for air conditioning, and Co2 extinguisher refilling.
Reporting Standards
The annual GHG emission disclosures – Scope 1, Scope Scope 2 Emissions: primarily results from procurement 10%
2, and Scope 3 have been prepared in accordance with of electricity to sustain our operations.
the requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Scope 3 Emissions: in addition to measuring and
Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard with the managing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, BFL 59%
emission factors sourced from the Intergovernmental recognises the significance of Scope 3 emissions in
Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3
its commitment to comprehensive environmental
Report, The UK Department for Environment, Food and stewardship. BFL Group’s Scope 3 emissions includes Total emission intensity per crore of Consolidated
Rural Affairs (Defra) Central Electricity Authority, Govt. the following: Total Revenue from Operations
of India and India GHG Programme, 2014.
FY2023
FY2024
Please refer to our Annual Report FY2024 page 197 at for the The Company has also started taking steps towards
detailed assurance statement. running a feasibility assessment for potentially tracking
any other types of waste, as applicable.
Environmental Initiatives
Environmental initiatives encompass a wide range of Energy efficiency
actions, aimed at protecting, preserving, and restoring
the natural world, and addressing various environmental
Energy efficiency is the smart choice for a sustainable
challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss,
future. We, at BFL Group, by embracing energy efficiency
pollution, and resource depletion. Whether it’s planting
in our daily lives and businesses, create a brighter,
trees, promoting renewable energy, or implementing
cleaner, and more sustainable world for all as we lower
sustainable practices, BFL group’s environmental
our impact on the environment.
initiatives make modest contributions to creating a
healthier planet for generations.
Energy saving practices Locations with Advance Illumination
CASE STUDY
Environmental stewardship
through financing Wakdewadi branch pilot project
BFL is running a pilot project to make our location
office sustainable and efficient by using a unique
IoT-based integrated solution with a 24x7 remote
Stakeholder awareness cloud-hosted monitoring platform.
about environment
2024
Solar panels
Solar panels offer benefits, both for businesses and the
planet by harnessing the power of sunlight, reducing
reliance on fossil fuels. By Installation of rooftop solar
panels at offices, BFL has produced ~5.90 lakh units of
clean energy.
~46.10 tCO2e
Carbon emission saving due to usage
Recycled Paper of E-Vehicles for inter-office shuttle
Recycled paper turns yesterday’s waste into today’s services in FY2024
resource and offers a greener alternative to traditional
paper production.
In FY2024, BFL has financed more than Through social media platforms, Bajaj Finance
Limited reaffirms its commitment to creating
5 lakh awareness of environmental outcomes for
eco-friendly devices external stakeholders.
5,100 K 18 crore
solar panel disbursed
EMPOWERING
development for youth to
supporting child education
and health, we are constantly
seeking to deliver high
impact programmes to drive
social change.
SOCIETY
Kurush Irani
President, CSR With a rich legacy of contributing to the community, the
Bajaj Group of Companies has long considered CSR as an
intrinsic corporate value, and its social impact programmes
reflect its commitment towards society. Bajaj Finserv is
committed to building a better future for the country’s
next generation with a special focus on Children and
Youth as beneficiaries. During FY2024, 209 projects were
implemented with a CSR Spend of ₹200.95 crore.
UN SDGs Aligned
EMPOWERING SOCIETY
Support for Adoption and Day Care Tara Mobile Crèches - Aadhar Day
Centres Care for Children of migrant labourers
We extend support to adoption and day care centres, working at construction sites
enabling the operation of facilities catering to children
of migrant labourers. Additionally, collaborations Tara Mobile Crèches Pune (TMCP) collaborates with
focus on organisations dedicated to adoption centres, construction sites and real estate developers to
ensuring continued support for vulnerable children establish day care centres, offering essential services
and their families. 560 were supported through like health, nutrition, education, and recreation to
the initiative. children, aged from birth to 18 years, across 14
Rescue and Reintegration Efforts sites in Pune and PCMC. TMCP’s efforts aim to keep
families together by providing a safe haven for
We facilitate the rescue of children from railway
children of migrant labourers, who otherwise face
platforms, providing temporary shelters, and reuniting
unsafe conditions or neglect while their parents’
them with their families. These initiatives have
work. With support from Bajaj Finance, the project
garnered recognition for their significant contributions
ensures a nurturing environment for children aged
to child protection and welfare. 3,650 were supported
0-18 at construction sites, offering day care facilities,
through the initiative.
educational support, youth development activities,
Learning Centres and parent involvement initiatives, ultimately aiming
Child Protection With the help of our partners, we contribute to the to improve the well-being and future prospects of
educational and developmental needs of vulnerable these vulnerable children. The project will impact
We aim to provide protection to vulnerable children
children, ensuring access to quality education and 2,200 children in Pune and PCMC area.
from marginalised communities who face risks such
as trafficking, abuse, child labour, legal conflicts, or enhancing their opportunities for a better future. 690
juvenile delinquency. Through strategic partnerships, were supported through the initiative.
we endeavour to create a secure environment for these Aftercare and Transition Support
children, prioritising their holistic development and well-
We provide ongoing guidance and assistance
being.
to children transitioning between phases of life,
Specific interventions include: ensuring continuity of care and support beyond
immediate interventions. 950 were supported through
Childcare Institutions
the initiative.
Childcare institutions play a crucial role in offering a
secure and nurturing environment for vulnerable children, Awareness and Sensitisation
providing structured educational and recreational Collaborative efforts extend to raising awareness
activities. We collaborate with them to foster socialisation, and sensitising communities about the issue of child
assist working parents with childcare services, and sexual abuse, partnering with various organisations
prioritise the cognitive, emotional, and physical to create a safer environment for children and prevent
development of children. 482 were supported through instances of abuse and exploitation. 32,818 were
the initiative. supported through the initiative.
Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities Dakshana India Educational Trust Fund -
We focus on the well-being of Persons with Disabilities Sponsorship and Mentorship programme for PwD
(PwDs) by facilitating their inclusion into mainstream Scholars for engineering and medical colleges
society. We address a variety of challenges, including
intellectual, developmental, physical, and locomotor Dakshana aims to alleviate poverty in India by
disabilities, with a strong emphasis on early identification, identifying impoverished yet brilliant teenagers
intervention, and counselling. and providing them intensive coaching to secure
Specific interventions include: admission into prestigious Indian Institutes of
Technology (IITs) and Government Medical Colleges
Early Rehabilitation (GMCs). By mitigating financial constraints,
It focuses on early detection, intervention, and educational disparities, and lack of guidance,
counselling to address disabilities at the earliest stage Dakshana levels the playing field for talented
possible. 1,404 beneficiaries were supported through but underprivileged students with physical and
the intervention. locomotive disabilities, enabling them to excel in
competitive exams and gain admission into top-tier
Educational Rehabilitation
engineering and medical institutions, ultimately
It encompasses supporting special schools, inclusive contributing to society. With a belief that investing
education initiatives, and vocational training programmes ₹ 2 lakh per family can potentially increase their
aimed at empowering Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) annual earnings by ₹ 5-10 lakh within 5-6 years
through education. This involves establishing inclusive and over ₹ 10-15 lakh within 10 years, the project
learning environments where students with and without boasts immense social return on investment (SROI).
disabilities learn together, utilising teaching methods Their approach includes comprehensive planning,
tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs. 6,501 communication with stakeholders, application
beneficiaries were supported through the intervention. processing, selection tests, financial verification,
Residential Homes
Medical Rehabilitation scholar preparation, and mentorship allocation,
They are offering house solutions for individuals with
ultimately facilitating access to scholarships and
It focuses on providing assistance in obtaining aids Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD),
education loans for higher education. Additionally,
and appliances to mitigate the effects of disabilities addressing concerns about their future after the
scholars maintain a lifelong association with
and improve quality of life. 2,580 beneficiaries were passing of their parents. 3,567 beneficiaries were
Dakshana, providing support to future students and
supported through the intervention. supported through the intervention.
contributing to the organisation’s initiatives.
Community Rehabilitation Infrastructure Development
The implemented projects offer therapies, counselling, It supports the renovation and construction of
educational support, medical aids, and employment facilities to enhance accessibility and accommodate
opportunities at the community level. 14,514 the needs of PwDs. 515 beneficiaries were supported
beneficiaries were supported through the intervention. through the intervention.
CUSTOMER
constantly seek new ways to
solve customer pain points and
push boundaries to deliver a
better experience. Our customer
obsession creates loyalty,
advocacy, and long-term value.
OBSESSION
Deepak Bagati At BFL Group, we have ingrained the ethos of 'Customer
Chief Operating Officer Obsession' into our organisational culture to fulfil our vision
& President - Debt of driving responsible growth. We prioritise our engagement
Management Services with our customers and actively listening to their feedback
across all aspects of our business operations. BFL Group is
committed to facilitating a comprehensive organisational
transformation through customer-centric initiatives,
aiming to provide a seamless experience throughout the
customer lifecycle, from loan application to closure.
UN SDGs Aligned
CUSTOMER OBSESSION
7
No. of Campaigns
1,690,000+
Impressions
Scaling Customer Experience This year marked a significant milestone with BFL
conducting its inaugural Customer Experience Annual
to the Next Level Operating Plan (AOP) for digital platforms, a move
At BFL Group, our focus is on continuously evolving necessitated by the growing scale and intricacy of
our business landscape to deliver our customers with the business. A key initiative under this AOP was the
seamless experience and service. unification of the App and Web into a single Digital Stack,
BFL Group is dedicated to enhancing its self-service with the strategy to equate App functionality with Web,
infrastructure, to provide a superior experience, greater ensuring a uniform and frictionless customer experience.
customer loyalty, and larger share of customers’ financial The completion of the App = Web strategy is anticipated
services wallet. with a release in September 2024. Throughout the year,
In line with this approach, BFL has instituted multiple the app has seen the addition of numerous features, now
cross-functional teams to identify areas requiring totalling 704.
process simplification across businesses, operations,
and collections to deliver superior customer experience.
Accordingly, we undertake periodic process,
policy, and system changes to propel enhanced
customer experience.
In continuation of its digital transformation journey
that started in FY2021 with the launch of the new Bajaj
Finserv App, BFL has gone live with 25+ service modules
covering 325 service journeys on the Bajaj Finserv App
and My Account (Website).
Unlike the traditional financial services model, which is
product focused followed by being customer oriented,
BFL’s omnichannel model starts with customers and
the products and processes follow. BFL believes that
the adoption of the omnichannel model has helped BFL
becoming a customer-centric digital enterprise. The
Company has achieved this by onboarding employees
with relevant skills, training existing employees to
Business Transformation
accelerate its omnichannel strategy and making
The Company’s strategy remains to be an ‘omnipresent’ structural changes to its technology stack.
financial services company dominant across all vectors
of consumer presence covering physical, app, web, The omnichannel strategy has six domains viz. (i)
social and virtual platforms. This led to the Omnichannel Geographic expansion, (ii) Bajaj Finserv app, (iii)
strategy, which was articulated in 2019 as part of BFL’s Bajaj Finserv website, (iv) Payments, (v) Productivity
long-range strategy to create a new phase of sustainable apps, and (vi) Customer data platform (CDP). During
growth. It has led to a huge structural shift for the FY2024, the Company significantly advanced on all
Company, and in reinventing the way it does everything. these domains.
Debt Management System payment channels and (iv) payment confirmation. These
communications are also made in vernacular language
BFL focuses on a robust debt management strategy to
via multiple channels like SMS, email, tele-calling and in-
ensure that its delinquent debt portfolio is kept at minimal
person visits.
levels. It accords debt management an important place in
its portfolio management strategy; and has a dedicated The Company has a dedicated structure aligned with
structure to follow a strict protocol for missed payments. business verticals for servicing customers: (i) with
The Company considers debt management as a service current month outstanding; (ii) in early delinquency; and
to customers to enable fair and ethical recovery of (iii) in NPA and write-off stage.
delinquent accounts and past-due payments. In an endeavour to follow a non-intrusive debt
BFL continues to invest in its debt management service management practice, BFL collects an electronic clearing
structure, service organisation, processes, trainings of mandate from its customers. In case of dishonour of
employees and agencies, strict adherence of compliance bank instrument, BFL provides customers with over 28
requirements and controllership by leveraging technology different digital payment options such as NEFT, RTGS,
to follow a non-intrusive debt management mechanism. Bharat Bill Payment Service (BBPS), Unified Payment
It follows a strong governance model for its debt Interface (UPI), CC Avenue, Wallets, Google Pay,
management services practices and ensures strict payment banks etc. These digital channels, along with
adherence to the regulatory and internal policies, code branch walk-ins, account for approximately 51% of debt
of conduct and fair practice code. It offers a choice to management volume.
customers to make overdue payments through digital In November 2022, the Company got its DRA training
Other Initiatives channels, branch walk-in, at retailer points as well as accreditation from Indian Institute of Banking and
• To enable a quick, automated response to customer door-step debt management services. Finance (IIBF). BFL has invested in online DRA training
requests, BFL leverages Machine Learning (ML) and The debt management journey begins well before the infrastructure for agents. After completion of online
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in a big way. customer’s instalment falls due. As a matter of good training, agents appear for a DRA certification test
During FY2024, we responded to over 1.91 lakh customer service, BFL sends advance intimations to all conducted by IIBF. The success rate of agents to clear
service requests on a near to-real-time basis without its customers five to six days before the instalment falls the exam is around 80%. The Company has planned to
human intervention. due, to enable customers to maintain adequate funds cover all its DMS agents with DRA certification in coming
in their bank account. This practice ensures that the two years. As on 31 March 2024, more than 16,000
• BFL has in place a dedicated team to ensure participants are DRA certified with the support of 79
credit history of a good customer is not impacted by any
continuous study and solutioning of customer certified facilitators as per IIBF norms.
unintentional default.
complaints. The prime objective of the team is to
reduce customer issues through a combination of The journey is expanded further to counselling of
data analysis, customer interactions and there by customers towards creating a good repayment behaviour
identifying root causes. The team drives necessary by clearing subsequent EMIs directly from the given
changes at Organisation Level through (Process, bank account. BFL has invested in service call centres to
Policy, People and Technology) to fix the identified counsel customers after the payment of overdue EMI.
root causes. BFL follows a graded communication approach with
• BFL also has a dedicated team which monitors delinquent customers across their repayment lifecycle.
customer queries and grievances on various social These clearly indicate: (i) the importance of timely
media channels and provides quick resolution. payment, (ii) avoidance of penal charges, (iii) available
• Set up a centralised call monitoring infrastructure for • Developed 127 situational videos in 8 vernacular
its outsourced debt management services agency languages which form part of the training module on
network to improve controllership. All agencies are its debt management services mobility app. These
required to make collection calls only through this provide clear understanding to agents on the do’s and • It has expanded the scope of interaction experience
infrastructure. All calls are now being recorded and don’ts while interacting with a customer. score to seek the customers’ rating on the debt
monitored periodically to ensure compliance of debt management services agent interaction. In Debt
• We have made CoC acceptance and acknowledgement
management code of conduct. Management Services the customer experience is
mandatory for all agents and agencies for accessing
captured post mobile receipt generation. Customer
• Opened dedicated debt management service desks our Mobility App.
experience is captured on a 5-scale rating, where
across 38 to address debt-related queries of walk-in
• BFL’s debt management agency monitoring 5 stand for best and this metric is captured on a
customers. The Company is committed to expand
framework helps review the performance of the Debt month‑on-month basis.
coverage of this model across more cities in future.
Management agency and enables us to take suitable
• New Partners Onboarding Journey: It is critical for
• Set up a centralised helpdesk for assisting action in terms of warning, penalty, and termination
new onboarded partners to have orientation and clear
and processing debt management services for deviations.
understating of recovery and organisation processes.
related requests.
• BFL captures transactional customer satisfaction Hence, a self-consumption digital learning in
• Formed a dedicated in-house team and a (CSAT) score on the Bajaj Finserv app for multiple vernacular languages is triggered once the agents are
centralised calling unit to enable speedier resolution service journeys to gauge the outcome of its customer onboarded so that they can be educated on the critical
of debt management related complaints of engagement efforts. DMS has received 1,937,000+ aspects of recovery process, customer handling and
aggrieved customers. responses with a 98.65% CSAT score in FY2024. the organisation governance framework.
• BFL has conducted extensive awareness campaigns • BHFL one of our subsidiaries conducted following Awareness series on YouTube:
about app adoption, the benefits of paying EMI on time, customer and digital awareness: #GharVerifiedTohLoanVerified.
and the self-service options on social media platforms,
Bitly link shared through WhatsApp for all active Sale Agreement Verification process explained.
including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
customers and newly onboarded customer for easy
During FY2024, 12 such campaigns went live, with a
access to portal and download app.
total of 158 posts, including 92 static posts and 66
videos. These collective efforts generated an overall Product awareness through social platform.
impression of 18.16 lakh views.
Cyber Security awareness through social platform.
• We have also published a cautionary post on our
Guide Videos for documentation through
website relating to payment fraud – digital, cyber
social platform.
and UPI, sharing essential tips for cyber security
awareness, UPI fraud prevention, and digital wallet Awareness posts regarding RERA on social media
fraud awareness to secure online transactions. (LinkedIn, Instagram, Meta, and YouTube).
• BFL views engagement with regulators as an Real Estate Act has changed the way India buys
ongoing process rather than a one-time event. Such homes, hence creating awareness.
engagements help to build strong relationships, gain
a deeper understanding of regulatory requirements,
and adapt their compliance practices to meet evolving
regulatory expectations. Details of such engagements
are as follows: Protecting Privacy of Customers’
Personal Data
Participation in Nodal Officers’ meetings and As a responsible corporate, we are fully committed
A
regional conferences, Customer Awareness to safeguarding our customers’ personal data.
Townhalls and Outreach Programmes We ensure such data protection through various
concerted measures.
Part of the panel discussion on “Gaps in
B • All information related to customers is stored as per
Implementation of Fair Lending Practices by
regulatory requirements.
NBFC’s” and “Handling of complaints related to
credit information & challenges and Action plan” • All loan details are stored in compliance with the
extant regulatory guidelines.
Our Internal Ombudsman was invited to give
C • Customer’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
a session on the “Effectiveness of Internal
is stored in an encrypted format.
Ombudsman Process”, organised by RBI
• Customer PII display is masked in the front-end
During the year BFL organised awareness and applications and if required access is given as per
D
education programmes for customers/ general approved policy.
public/ students and for DMS agents/agencies
• We ensure redaction of customers’ KYC details, such
in coordination with RBI
as Aadhaar number.
• Access to customer PII is masked and restricted Strengthening the Customer Service
access is granted on a need-to-know basis, with
due approval.
Governance Framework
As on 31 March 2024, BFL’s customer franchise
• Data Loss Prevention Solutions have been deployed to extended across 83.64 million people, and it disbursed
monitor and detect data loss incidents, if any. 36.2 million new loans during the year. BFL Group
• We review our information security processes received 6,876 customer complaints in FY2024,
periodically and get these audited by external audit amongst which 15 complaints were pending for
firms. BFL and BHFL has received ISO 27001 (ISMS: resolution as on 31 March 2024. These complaints were
Information Security Management Framework) suitably resolved by April 2024.
certification for its IT security. As an ethical organisation, we have developed a robust
• Our Data Privacy policy is displayed on our website, customer services governance. Some of these are as under:
and these, inter alia, cover the details regarding • Invested significant time and effort in developing
consent, collection, use, sharing, processing, and customised credit assessment and operations
retention of customer data. Customers can raise processes. We have a customised loan origination
privacy related concerns through the website. system and monitoring frameworks and systems to
ensure high standards of on-boarding, credit quality • BFL has constituted a Customer Service Committee of
• In addition to traditional credit bureau data, we are
and portfolio performance. We invest in emerging the Board.
now integrated with the account aggregator (“AA”)
ecosystem, i.e. an RBI regulated entity through which technologies and analytics in order to enable us to • As part of BFL’s Board-approved Grievance Redressal
individuals are able to digitally and securely share data cross-sell our products, improve productivity, manage Mechanism policy, the Board conducts quarterly
with other regulated financial institutions in the AA risks and decrease costs. review of customer grievances and complaints
network, for leveraging consent-based information. Fair Practice Code (FPC) received from RBI. The focus of the review is on
identification of root cause, corrective action plans and
• FPC is at the core of dealing with customer; and
customer service initiatives.
BFL has established a dedicated FPC unit which
works with all the businesses and functions across • Effective grievance redressal mechanism in place
the organisation to ensure strict compliance with wherein multiple online and offline customer
the guidelines. touchpoints are set up for easy and transparent
grievance resolution with >98% resolution within
• BFL now offers Key Fact Statement (KFS) to all
48 hours. Board-approved complaint classification
customers, both digital and non-digital, across retail
document is in place for the same and quarterly
and MSME products at pre-sanction stage. Every
updates on the same are sent to the Board.
customer is required to review the KFS and provide
explicit consent to the KFS through an ‘I Agree’ • The BFL Group has a “Contact US” tab on its website
process for availing sanction from the Company. homepage for anyone to reach us in case of queries/
The Company has also introduced digital signatures concerns. The grievance resolution timeline, escalation
on agreement and KFS in line with digital lending matrix, etc. is publicly disclosed on this tab. These
guidelines of the RBI. Further, to ensure accessibility queries/concerns are manned by seasoned resources,
and transparency, BFL has made collaterals and KFS equipped with good communication skills and
available in 20 vernacular languages. product/process knowledge.
HUMAN CAPITAL
Our HR practices thus are focused on
providing opportunities to outperform,
building a long term career with us,
competitive compensation and a robust
rewards and recognition framework.
We foster a culture of entrepreneurship,
MANAGEMENT
transparency, care & connect which
aligns them with the larger purpose of
the organisation. We do what it takes to Committed to Employee Growth
ensure the well-being of our colleagues. At the heart of BFL Group’s corporate ethos lies the
Our Code of Ethics and Personal conduct, unwavering commitment to nurturing our most valuable
behavioural and whistle-blower policies asset — human capital. Our employees play a central
empower our people to do the right thing. role in our objectives of achieving sustained growth
in a constantly changing business environment. Our
Anupam Sirbhaiya commitment to our people is to create an atmosphere
Chief Human Resources & focused on holistic employee development and building
Administration Officer
workplace culture that reflects our values.
UN SDGs Aligned
HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Transform
Founder’s Mindset Customer Obsession Stay Humble, Execute
Continuously
Show Respect with Rigor
Purelife Initiative
Our commitment to well-being and work-life
balance is steadfast. We balance business growth
and employees’ physical and mental well-being.
The ‘Pure Life’ initiatives provide resources and a
platform for overall wellness for all employees.
ii. Walk-a-thon
Prioritising the health and well-being of our
employees, Walk-a-thon is our commitment to
encourage an active lifestyle. We aim to enhance
the overall health and vitality of our workforce,
ensuring they are energised and ready to meet the
challenges in both their personal and professional
life. This initiative serves dual purpose i.e. prioritising
health along with noble cause towards environment.
Over 70,000 saplings were planted to celebrate
achievements of the employees who completed
the goals as set by the organisation.
Employee Engagement The number of unique NGOs also increased to 192, b. Indoor Games Tournament
with a total distribution of 40,741 items. Comparing Indoor games offer a break, reducing stress
BFL’s large workforce is spread out at various
these two fiscal years, there was a significant and enhancing mental well-being. They foster
locations; so, having a solid and lasting engagement
increment across all metrics: 102% increase in the teamwork, strengthen relationships, and improve
model within the organisation is crucial.
number of branches and NGOs involved, 92% growth communication. Engaging in enjoyable activities
In FY2024, we conducted employee engagement in the number of unique NGOs, and a 61% surge in boosts morale, motivation, and employee
drives engaging employees in social activities that the number of items distributed. satisfaction, enhancing company culture and values.
would help them participate in social work within an
institutionalised framework. 2,890+
Total Employee Participation
i. Daan Utsav
Daan Utsav is an initiative in which BFL employees iii. Own My Branch (OMB) Framework
came together to contribute to the well-being of Own My Branch is a programme that connects
society under four themes: ‘Nanhe Kadam’ (Child senior management and the Head Office to branches
welfare), ‘Anna Daan’ (Food for the needy), JOY across India. This ensures smooth execution of the
(Just Older Youth) Club and ‘Gifts Unlimited. Leadership voice from the Head Office to ground
With the impact created in FY2023 and moving level and builds ever-growing trust between the
forward to FY2024, DAAN Utsav has increased leadership and employees.
its participation footprint from 107 branches in Each leader is responsible for overseeing 2 to 3
FY2023 to 216 branches in FY2024. This has in turn branches quarterly. Currently, we covered over 1,100
increased the impact of the initiative with 216 NGOs locations, which has grown by 13% since last year.
benefitting due to the donated items. Our meticulous tracking of the OMB programme
attendance and participation reveals a substantial
impact, with more than 800 leaders reaching out to
nearly 31,500 employees.
Make a Contribution,
Make a Difference ii Celebrations iv. Townhall as a Nexus of Open Dialogue
Daan Utsav 2023 is here, a month-long initiative aimed a. Festival MD/Deputy MD along with CHRO, led “Confluence”
at fulfilling wishes and spreading happiness. We believe that small gestures go a long way, emerges as a dynamic hub for open dialogue,
under Celebration Framework at BFL, we establish exemplifying our leadership’s commitment to
Nanhe Kadam
1st - 8th
Anna Daan
11th - 15th
Joy Club
18th - 23rd
Gifts unlimited
23rd - 30th
meaningful connections with our employees and transparency and accessible communication.
December December December December
A donation drive
aimed to help
Focused charity
providing packaged
Focused charity
providing packaged
New gifts useful for
children. extend festival spirit to their families. We celebrate all Every quarter, nearly 45% of employees across
children of all age food, grains, etc. for food and essentials
groups with clothes,
toys & stationery.
homeless needy
people.
for old-aged people.
festivities, employee milestones and achievements. more than 3,700 locations participate virtually.
In FY2024, we celebrated regional festivals Through Confluence, leaders share crucial updates
Get ready to share joy!
across 848 locations, encompassing more of the Company, organisational strategies,
than 15,800 employees and more than 5,800 financial health, addressing queries openly,
families. Shifting from a centralised celebration hence enriching collective understanding of our
framework to a regional one, we embrace and organisational landscape.
“celebrate cultural diversity”.
v. Regional Town halls Recognised by Great Place to Work™ as India’s Best Workplaces™ Building a Culture of Innovation by All
(2023-2024).
Regional town halls are dynamic platforms fostering
open interaction between employees and the Recognised by Great Place Work™ as India’s Best Workplaces™ in BFSI (2023-2024).
leadership. These informal sessions contribute to a
In tracking employee metrics, the following aspects are addressed in our employee surveys
culture where employees, regardless of their roles,
feel heard and valued.
Through these monthly and quarterly forums, we Job satisfaction (external motivation, Happiness (e.g. I feel happy at work
extend trust uniformly, recognising the contribution e.g. I am satisfied with my job) most of the time)
of our employees, including those off the rolls which
reinforces a culture where trust is not limited by
employment status but is an inclusive and extended
Purpose (internal motivation, e.g. my Stress (e.g. I feel stressed at work
facet of the organisation.
work has a clear sense of purpose) most of the time)
vi. Ruminate – Leadership Forum
Ruminate is our flagship leadership discussion forum
that provides them an opportunity to exchange
views, delve into BFL-centric case studies and
build meaningful connections outside work. This
programme provides a direct channel for them to
share insights with the Managing Director (MD).
I n FY2024, more than 90% of employees the overall learning experience. To cater diverse planned conversations between a new employee
completed training on compliance learning needs, we added premium digital content and the manager for a year, to ensure hand holding,
related aspects. courses for our employees, further enriching their training and support. A platform, Employee 360 is in
professional development journey. place which has been set up to facilitate and record
Our commitment to continuous learning is evident
these conversations and feedback.
through collaborations with global digital learning i. Set Up of Regional Training Centres
platforms such as Coursera, Go1, Percipio and The establishment of Regional Training Centres iii. P
rogramme for Result-Oriented People in
Harvard. These initiatives extend diverse courses (RTCs) at BFL supports our strategic initiative Executive Leadership (PROPEL)
and learning resources to employees, wherein, towards extending learning opportunities to remote In Bajaj Finance, a transition to a Business Head
over 16,000 employees have consumed over and regional employees who may lack exposure role is a pivotal shift from a previous role in terms
20,000+ Content pieces in FY2024. to the corporate world. The RTCs are designed to of expectations and responsibilities. The change is
Our Distance Learning Programme exemplifies the provide them with essential skill enhancement, by more pronounced and requires a leap in capability,
enthusiasm for learning, surpassing expectations catering to their specific needs. The RTCs ensure mindset and action.
by enrolling 355 participants out of the available that they are equipped with the knowledge and
iv. Leadership Coaching
500 seats, reflecting the genuine commitment capabilities necessary for success in their roles,
ultimately contributing to the continued growth and Our Leadership Coaching, facilitated by external
of our workforce to continuous education
success of the organisation. coaches, fosters self-awareness, and equips leaders
and development.
to guide others. Tailored for the Senior Management
Total expenditure on Learning and Regional Training Centres (RTC) and Functional Teams, each leader undergoing coaching receives
development by the BFL group in FY2024 Induction play a crucial role in offering a an Individual Development Plan with 10 strategic
was over J 53 crore, which translates to comprehensive introduction to our values, mission, connections over 10 months, ensuring focused and
approximately J 9,800 average per employee. and operational aspects. Spanning across 9 function smart development.
These numbers bear testimony to our drive, to schools at 143 units, these programmes have
successfully trained over 14,000 employees. v. Manager Capability Development (MCD)
continue to deliver our best despite mounting
challenges and stringent cost structures. MCD is designed to empower our leaders through
a structured four-month training programme.
During the year, more than 48,400 employees The outcomes of MCD are impactful, leading to
participated in at least one of the developments heightened productivity, increased employee
programmes viz. functional, managerial and engagement, and a reduction in attrition. By
leadership skill enhancement programmes helping imparting these skills, MCD empowers leaders
them in upskilling/multi-skilling. Around 83% of the to guide their teams in aligning their roles with
female employees and 90% of the male employees the organisational goals outlined in AOP and
during the year participated in at least one of the LRS agenda.
functional/skill upgradation trainings.
vi. 30 Under 30
I n FY2024, BFL group registered more than
This programme is designed to identify and groom
6 lakh training hours cumulatively.
top 30 young talents under 30, across BFS group
Our training programmes features a blend of ii. On-the-Job-Training (OJT) companies. It is designed to strengthen the young
virtual and in-person sessions, prioritising the To facilitate structured onboarding and training of talent pool, by focusing on developing capabilities
reintroduction of classroom training to enhance fresh joiners, the company has in place a framework and skills required for the future.
for On-the-Job-Training (OJT), which includes
Name of the programme Description Impact of Name of the programme Description Impact of
and objective the programme and objective the programme
Certified Primarily built to Aligning with this, Women ASCENT is a women’s leadership The programme
Internal Partner • Create a ready and qualified internal we have created Leadership development initiative, tailored for has proven
pool of certified trainers a pool of 700+ Programme - women employees on the brink of quantifiable
• Build a group of internal partners Certified Internal ASCENT leadership. The programme cultivates results,
with multi-functional and multi- Partners (CIP). courageous conversations, conquers accelerated career
lingual expertise internal barriers, refines executive growth trajectories
• Increase speed-to-market for future presence, facilitates career jumps, and sharpened
projects and outreach to different and enhances leadership qualities by executive
geographical areas tapping into a community of women presence for these
• Reduce dependence on external and male allies, all under the ethos of 21 high-potential
partners for learning interventions emotional intelligence and execution women, preparing
rigor. ASCENT ensures open dialogue, them for senior
• Enhance the people development
executive impact, career acceleration, leadership roles.
role of leaders
and leadership empowerment.
ESG Awareness for Employees The BFL Group has ‘Code of Ethics and Personal
Throughout the year, the BFL group undertook Conduct’ (CoEPC), ‘Whistle Blower’ and ‘Mind Your
diverse campaigns aimed at cultivating awareness Behaviour’ frameworks as grievance mechanisms
among employees regarding responsible and for employees and value-chain partners to report or
sustainable business conduct principles. The raise concerns confidentially and anonymously, and
primary objective was to acquaint and engage them without fear of retaliation.
with BFL’s Environmental, Social, and Governance 4. Ethics and Compliance During FY2024, all employee complaints
(ESG) practices and initiatives. Leveraging various We along with our subsidiaries ensure compliance linked to CoEPC (earlier CoC) adherence were
platforms such as social media posts, intra-net with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and The suitably resolved.
communication forums for focused dialogues, Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. The BFL Group is
device screen savers, office space displays, compliant with all applicable labour laws.
and email announcements, we strategically
disseminated ESG-related information. Recognising The Company does not have any employee
that sustainable practices require a collective trade union and not in any collective bargaining
endeavour of employees and organisation to achieve agreement, although it allows all employees to
the desired results. exercise the lawful right to ‘freedom of association’.
Anurag Chottani
Chief Operating Officer In this technological age, the significance of safeguarding
& Chief Technology Officer information, irrespective of its origin or type, cannot be over-
emphasised. Within BFL Group’s information technology framework,
robust measures in information security, cyber security, and fraud
controls finds dominant place. These controls are essential for
preventing disruptions and security breaches that could lead to the
loss of customer data and disruptions in business operations.
UN SDGs Aligned
INFORMATION SECURITY, CYBER SECURITY AND FRAUD CONTROLS
2. BHFL is complaint with BFL Group has defined and implemented policies such as
a. ISO 27001:2022 Information Security IT Policy, Cyber security policy and Data privacy policy as
Management System per applicable regulatory requirements.
b.
NHB’s Policy circular “Information Technology Cyber Security
Framework for HFC Sector”
BFL Group has institutionalised a cyber security policy to
3. BFSL is compliant with protect its information infrastructure on internet, prevent
SEBI’s Cyber Security and Resilience Framework and respond to cyber threats; reduce vulnerabilities; and
minimise damage from cyber incidents. This is achieved
To protect systems and data against the threats in through a combination of dedicated teams, control
‘work environment’ BFL and its subsidiaries wherever processes and technology. Some of the operational
applicable have also implemented Data Loss Prevention measures to monitor and respond to data breaches and
(DLP) solutions such as cyber-attacks are:
c. R
BI’s Master Direction – “Information Technology
Framework for the NBFC Sector” Dedicated solution for Server
06 security – Trend Micro Deep security
d. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
v4.0 for Wallet Environment
All data protection controls are enhanced periodically and
evaluated at least once in a year.
Additionally, the cyber security policy extends to the • Commitment to notify data subjects in a timely • Disciplinary actions in case of breach (i.e. zero
following domains: manner in case of policy changes or data breach. tolerance policy).
Vulnerability management: BFL administrates • If any employee discovers data breach incidents, they Privacy of Personal Information
a vulnerability management process that actively can be reported on the platform as available.
BFL Group is committed to protecting the privacy of
scans for security threats. The vulnerability
Following mechanisms are in place to ensure effective individuals whose personal data it holds, and processing
management team is responsible for tracking and
implementation of the Company’s privacy policy: such personal data in a way that is consistent with
following up on vulnerability closures. BFL’s IT
applicable laws. We believe that the data privacy
infrastructure and information security management • Privacy policy applies to the entire operations.
framework should be in line with the evolving regulatory
system is audited by external auditor during the year.
• Designated person or department responsible for changes and digital transformation. Please refer to
We conduct simulated hacker attacks as part of our
privacy issues. ‘Customer Obsession’ section of this Report.
Red Team exercise. The same is performed by an
external agency. • Privacy policy system embedded in group-wide risk/ BFL Group is evaluating the requirements of the Digital
compliance management. Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its impact
Penetration testing: To test potentially
on existing policies and processes. BFL Group has
exploitable vulnerabilities, penetration tests are
zero‑tolerance for breach of data confidentiality and
conducted for all critical networks and systems
privacy. Further, BFL Group has defined disciplinary
within the Company’s internal environment and
actions, ranging from suspension, to termination,
for external applications. Penetration tests are
penalty, legal action, etc. for noted instances of data
triggered based on several events, including new
breach. During the year, there were no instances
releases, updates, or enhancements. The types
of data breaches involving personally identifiable
of penetration tests that are conducted include
information of customers across BFL Group.
Network/Host Penetration Testing and Application
Penetration Testing. Audits and Assessments
Data Privacy BFL and BHFL conducts regular internal security audits,
vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
Led by a strong commitment to protect the privacy of
of its systems, products and practices affecting user
personal data, we have formulated a well-structured Data
data, in compliance with ISO 27001 standards. BFL and
Privacy Policy which incorporates:
BHFL conduct periodic application security assessment
• Commitment to obtain user data through lawful and like pre-production, six monthly application security
transparent means, with explicit consent of the data assessment and a structured exercise at various stages
subject where required. of its business enhancements, APIs, Bots, etc.
• Clear terms involving the collection, use, sharing and BFSL conducts yearly external Vulnerability Assessment
retention of user data, including data transferred to and Penetration Testing (VAPT) audit through a CERT-IN
third parties. empanelled vendor as mandated by SEBI guidelines.
• Collection and processing of user data that is limited to
the stated purpose.
BFL Group systems, products and practices affecting The BCP of BFL and BHFL have Board oversight. BFL is
user data goes through an extensive audit assessment by compliant with the ISO 22301 standards of BCM system.
IT Security and Cyber Security
external experts wherever applicable, including: Governance Structure
• ISO 27001 surveillance audit ISO 22301 surveillance
Incident Management All IT Security-related projects and operations of BFL are
audit for BFL. We have a formal policy for incident management. regularly reviewed by IT Strategy Committee comprising
Incidents may be detected automatically via our Security Board members and/or senior executives of BFL.
• ISO 27001 recertification audit for BHFL. Incident and Event Management (SIEM) tool which is Subsidiaries of BFL have their separate IT Committees
• Audit under the RBI’s Master Directions – “Information integrated with our critical systems or may be reported who regularly review their IT security-related projects
Technology Framework for the NBFC Sector”. by IT system owners, employees, vendors, or partners. and operations.
Further, our Cyber Risk Unit also monitors the dark web
• Audit under RBI’s Master Directions on Prepaid The Committee meets on a half-yearly frequency. The
for any potential incident. Incidents are tracked and
Payment Instruments. Committee members and Executive Management team
closed as per the severity. For Incident Response and
have relevant experience and background in IT strategy
• Information technology governance, risk, and Resolution, we have designed a documented framework
and processes.
compliance audit by the internal auditors of which also includes a process to include learnings from
the Company. incidents to improve incident response and recovery Composition of BFL’s IT Strategy Committee
activities and capabilities. However, the said policy is Sr. No. Designation
• Red Team exercise for internet facing systems and internal to the company.
IT Infrastructure. 1. Chairman, Non-Executive, Independent Director
Code of Ethics and Personal Conduct (CoEPC) states
• Audits under NHB’s Master Directions. 2. Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director
all fair practices to be followed at the workplace by
employees; in case of any breach observed by an 3. Managing Director, Executive
• System and cyber audits conducted by CERT-IN
empanelled partners for stock exchanges (NSE, BSE, employee, he can raise a complaint through Whistle 4. Executive Director
NSDL, CDSL) are done every six months. Blower Channel and appropriate action will be taken 5. Senior Executive, Chief Technology Officer
as per Disciplinary Action Policy (DAP). The CoEPC
6. Senior Executive, Vice President – Technology
Business Continuity & Disciplinary Action Policy is available on the
and Digital
Company’s website.
Management
BFL Group has a robust and resilient business continuity
strategy and framework which is also compliant with
regulatory requirements. Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
envisages likely disruptive events, their probability and
impact on business operations which is assessed through
business impact analysis. It aims to eliminate or minimise
potential disruption to critical business operations.
In addition to the IT Strategy Committee, the overall IT Governance structure is designed as below to ensure appropriate segregation of roles and responsibilities
between the 3 lines of defence:
Senior Outsourcing
IT Steering Information Security
Management Compliance
Committee Committee (ISC)
Committees Committee
CISO Office
Internal
Cyber Risk Unit (CRU)
Process Audit Team
Teams Owners from
IT Department (Corporate Audit
IT Compliance Team Services - CAS)
Operational Risk
Management (ORM) Team
BFL group has dedicated information security and cyber 6. Review at least on annual basis, the adequacy and
risk units to manage cyber security programme and effectiveness of the Business Continuity Planning
Awareness and Training
operations for all digital initiatives. and Disaster Recovery Management; • BFL Group creates cyber security and data privacy
awareness across stakeholders including employees,
The Terms of Reference of the 7. Review the assessment of IT capacity requirements value-chain partners, business partners, etc. as may
and measures taken to address the issues;
Committee be applicable through multiple channels such as
8. Approve documented standards and procedures for training, emails, posters, brochures, social media, etc.
IT Strategy Committee looks into various technology
related aspects. The functions of the Committee are access to information assets; • Trainings are imparted on security requirements,
to formulate IT strategy and related policy documents, 9. Decide constitution of Information Security applications and other information processing facilities
ensure that IT strategy is aligned with business strategy, Committee (ISC), with Chief Information Security to employees and vendors who use customer facing
review IT risks, etc. The terms of reference of the Officer (CISO) and other representatives from application and assets. BFL also conducts phishing
Committee are: business and IT functions, etc.; drills periodically.
1. Ensure effective IT strategic planning process 10. Such other matters as may be assigned by the • To educate customers/users on privacy, security
in place; Board of Directors or prescribed under any of the awareness and confidentiality aspects, the Group
directions, circulars, or guidelines issued by Reserve companies run campaigns on NOT sharing OTP,
2. Guide in preparation of IT Strategy and ensure
Bank of India or otherwise directed by them, from fraud alerts, no asking/sharing of personal details on
that the IT Strategy aligns with the overall strategy
time to time. calls, phishing emails, etc. In addition to awareness
towards accomplishment of its business objectives;
campaigns, during the year 95% of employees
3. IT Governance and Information Security Governance were imparted training on fraud prevention,
structure fosters accountability, is effective and cyber security, and data privacy by BFL Group.
efficient, has adequate skilled resources, well defined
objectives, and unambiguous responsibilities for
each level in the organisation;
• Information security/cyber security is part of the Fraud and Cyber Awareness 1. Bano Cyber Smart: In this campaign, we focused
employee performance evaluation. Disciplinary actions on general cybercrimes and cyber awareness things
Overview: Rising instances of cyber fraud and increase
on employees during the financial year impacts that people should be aware of - not sharing with
in reports of users falling prey to fraudsters who are luring
performance evaluation/rating of an employee. For strangers their ATM/Card (Debit/Credit/Prepaid)
them on fictitious pretexts, such as alleged completion of
example, if an employee has been issued a warning details, beware of phishing, smishing and vishing
KYC requirements, impersonating identities and websites
under Disciplinary Action Policy, he/she shall not be scams, etc.
of lenders and payment system operators, etc. are
eligible for A+ rating for respective financial year.
increasing day by day and is anticipated to rise further. 2. Settle Karna Hai Loan, Pehle Pucho Aap Kaun:
Encouraging people to never pay off their debts
The safety and security of customer data and digital
through third-party loan/debt settlement entities.
transactions are of paramount importance to our
The Company through its awareness series Always contact your lender for settling your loan.
customer base. We have actively undertaken digital
‘Information Security Awareness | Know
awareness campaigns in social and Audio-Visual media. 3. Fake Loan Ka Danger Zone: Advising people to
the infosec guidelines’ created awareness
stay away from scammers representing himself/
amongst its employees on importance of
information security on following topics:
Social Media Platforms herself as an employee of Bajaj/any reputable
bank or NBFC where they are offering loans, asking
• Password security
3 for personal/financial details, PAN card, Aadhaar
Card, etc.
No. of campaigns
• Phishing attack
• Mobile security
• Prevent malware
5,300,000+
Impressions
• Beware of social engineering
• Printouts 400+
No. of posts
• Data security
• Email security
1) Fraud Framework
BFL has in place a robust framework/ policy on fraud
risk management for lending business, along with
a pro‑active fraud detection process, for payment
business. It broadly covers:
• Board-approved policy.
UN SDGs Aligned
STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT
1. Participation in Nodal Officers’ meetings and regional 3. Loan Ka the End: Always obtain NDC from your lender
conferences, Customer Awareness Townhalls and on the closure of loan.
Outreach Programmes.
4. Wait Nahi, Update Karo: Importance updating or
2. Part of the panel discussion on ‘Gaps in changing contact number should also update the
Implementation of Fair Lending Practices by NBFC’s’ same on loan account.
and ‘Handling of complaints related to credit
information & challenges and Action plan’. 5. Har Koi Bajaj Nahi: Stakeholder were made aware
of fraudsters commenting on social media posts of
3. Our Internal Ombudsman was invited to give
random people as a Bajaj representative and asking for
a session on the ‘Effectiveness of Internal
their loan details/money.
Ombudsman Process’, organised by RBI.
Government and Regulators 4. During the year, BFL organised awareness and 6. Doori Hai Zaroori From Loan Settlement:
We proactively share our views on formulating new education programmes for customers/general Stakeholders were communicated the importance of
industry standards or regulatory developments pertaining public/students and for DMS agents/agencies in staying away from loan settlement.
to the NBFC sector. In doing so, we strive to balance the coordination with RBI. 7. Har Time EMI On Time: In this campaign, we
interest of various stakeholders. We engage regularly highlighted to the stakeholders to pay their EMIs on
with Government agencies and regulators and remain Campaign Details time and emphasise the potential consequences of
steadfastly committed to providing timely and accurate Loan Repayment Campaign failing to do so.
information, suggestions and recommendations,
Overview: Loan Repayment campaigns stress the 8. Charges For What: Educating people on penal
feedback on draft policies, etc. as and when required.
importance of prudent financial practices. Some of the charges, ECS changes and bounce charges.
During such interactions, we also discuss areas of focus
aspects include advising on the use of digital payments
and concerns.
and receipts to avoid misappropriation and cautioning
Our participation in the public and regulatory policy in respect of the wrong ‘Karza Mukti’ groups which can
development process encompasses providing spoil the credit score, letting them know how the loan Social Media Platforms
suggestions on draft notifications, and interactions settlements affect the credit and the need for updates
with various bodies/regulators on matters significant
to the industry and the society at large. We also give
in personal details for proper management of the loan.
The campaigns have also been a clarion call against
8
No. of campaigns
recommendations, from time to time, to various fraud on social media and time and again reiterated the
regulators in the larger interest of the industry. significance of making EMI payments on time to avoid
charges for the same.
Partnering Regulatory Change
1. Just Ask For It: Always use digital mode of 18,400,000+
Journeys payment and always take receipt to reduce Cash Impressions
BFL views engagement with regulators as an Misappropriation cases.
ongoing process rather than a one-time event. Such
2. No Mukti Only Nuskaan: Through this campaign, we
engagements help to build strong relationships, gain
a deeper understanding of regulatory requirements, created awareness amongst stakeholders to not join 320+
and adapt their compliance practices to meet evolving Karza Mukti Abhiyan and such fake groups as this may No. of posts
regulatory expectations. Details of such engagements are affect their credit score in a negative manner.
as follows:
3 About Campaigns
sustainable environment by adhering to all pertinent
laws and regulations applicable to our business
No. of campaigns Sitti Pitti Gul – Our umbrella campaign for fraud and operations in letter and spirit. Keeping this virtue in
cyber awareness under which we covered the below mind, we initiated awareness campaigns to encourage
sub-campaigns: our stakeholders for upholding the same values,
5,300,000+ 1. Bano Cyber Smart: In this campaign, we focused
principles, and business ethics in their dealings.
High
Topics
Our sustainability interventions focus on issues that are most material to us and our
Importance to Stakeholders
stakeholders. The Materiality Assessment intends to determine environmental, social,
Quantitative Materiality
and governance issues central to oversight and the active engagement from the senior Business
Assessment Tool
management and ESG leadership teams. This assessment has helped prioritise, from the Objectives
universe of material issues, topics of highest importance to the Company’s business.
The Materiality Assessment exercise was conducted through survey-based forms and Risk
Assessment
engagement with senior officers of the BFL Group to identify relevant sustainability
issues. The Assessment considered the requirements of various ESG Standards and
Rating agencies. The outcome was a final materiality matrix to guide our ESG journey Stakeholder
including areas of high impact on our business operations and stakeholders. Analysis
Low
External Low High
Requirements
Importance to Bajaj Finance Group -
Lending Business
Sustainable Finance
Human
Rights
Financial Inclusion
Climate Strategy and
Emissions Management
Impact to Business
* Regulatory compliance which was part of corporate governance is now being considered separately.
# Economic Performance is newly considered material topic.
We have tried to map our footsteps in the journey to evaluate our maturity through the ESG Materiality Assessment. Following is a list of high importance topics for the BFL Group
based on its current maturity assessment and level of information available and transparent disclosure in this ESG Report: