State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, reported a 9.9% decrease in its net profit for the fourth quarter to Rs 18,643 crore. This decline was primarily attributed to a one-time pension provision of Rs 7,100 crore resulting from a significant 50% pension hike. However, excluding this exceptional provision, the bank’s operating profit actually saw a healthy increase of 8.8%. The bank also witnessed a substantial surge of 39.4% in its non-interest income, primarily fueled by gains in its treasury operations. In a positive development, the bank’s asset quality showed improvement, with gross non-performing assets (NPAs) falling below the 2% mark for the first time. This performance highlights the bank’s resilience in navigating challenging economic conditions and reinforces its position as a key player in the Indian banking sector.