Insurance Gyan

📰 *Top 10 Insurance & IRDAI News Today*

1. India Raises FDI Cap to 100% in Insurance Sector Under Automatic Route
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has formally liberalized India's insurance sector, permitting up to 100% foreign direct investment under the automatic route via Press Note No. 1 of 2026. Foreign investors will no longer require prior government approval to acquire full ownership of Indian insurance companies, effectively removing previous ownership ceilings and facilitating greater capital inflows and market competition.
📅 2026-02-09

2. New Insurance FDI Framework Takes Effect
India's amended Foreign Investment Rules for insurance companies came into effect on February 5, 2026, following amendments passed in December 2025. The framework removes the previous 74% foreign investment cap and aligns FDI with FEMA norms while updating ownership thresholds and governance requirements.
📅 2026-02-05

3. Life Insurers' Paid-Up Capital Rises 7% in FY25
Life insurers' paid-up capital increased by 7% in FY25 amid premium growth, rising commission scrutiny, and regulatory reforms. The growth reflects ongoing consolidation and capital strengthening in the sector.
📅 2026-02-17

4. RBI Highlights High Distribution Costs as Barrier to Insurance Pe*******on
The Reserve Bank of India noted in its Financial Stability Report that high distribution and acquisition costs are limiting insurance coverage expansion in India by reducing affordability. Premium growth has been driven more by distribution-led strategies than operating efficiency improvements, with commission expenses rising significantly faster than other operating costs in the non-life segment.
📅 2026-02-17

5. December Records Highest Monthly New Business Premium Growth in FY26
New business premiums rose 39.5% to Rs. 42,150.8 crore in December, marking the highest monthly growth recorded in FY26. Life Insurance Corporation of India led with a 57.45% jump to Rs. 21,293.9 crore, while private life insurers reported a 24.93% increase to Rs. 20,856.9 crore.
📅 2026-02-17

6. Insurers Propose Higher Premium Limits for Tax Benefits
Life insurers have proposed raising the premium limit for taxing maturity proceeds of traditional life insurance policies from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh and increasing the tax-free premium threshold for unit-linked insurance plans to Rs. 5 lakh, bringing them in line with traditional products.
📅 2026-02-17

7. GST Waiver Improves Life Insurance Affordability and Demand
According to Bandhan Life Insurance MD and CEO Satishwar B, the GST waiver has improved affordability and demand for life insurance. Industry leaders are calling for better tax incentives for protection and health plans to expand coverage and support the government's Insurance for All by 2047 objective.
📅 2026-02-17

8. Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act Modernizes Insurance Regulatory Framework
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, enacted in December 2025, provides the legislative backbone for India's insurance sector modernization. The Act aims to expand insurance coverage under the Insurance for All by 2047 vision, modernize regulatory architecture, and balance liberalization with robust consumer protection.
📅 2026-02-09

9. South Korean Insurers Explore Entry into India's $130 Billion Market
Leading South Korean insurers including Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Mirae Asset Financial Group, and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. are in exploratory talks about entering India's $130 billion insurance market, signaling growing international interest in the sector.
📅 2026-02-06

10. InsuranceDekho Owner Plans $250 Million India IPO
Girnar Insurance Brokers Pvt., which operates insurtech startup InsuranceDekho, is weighing an initial public offering in Mumbai that could raise as much as $250 million, reflecting growing investor interest in India's digital insurance segment.
📅 2026-02-13

📰 *Top 10 Insurance & IRDAI News Today*

1. Tier-II, Tier-III cities drive bulk of new health insurance policies
Tier-II and Tier-III cities account for 62% of new health insurance policies sold over the past five years, driven by improved affordability and awareness, with over 40% of Tier-III customers opting for monthly EMIs.[1]
📅 2026-01

2. Centre to roll out cooperative insurance services for rural employment
The Centre will introduce Sahkari Insurance Services to expand insurance access in rural India, aiming to triple the cooperative sector’s GDP contribution and increase membership beyond 50 crore.[1]
📅 2026-01

3. Over 9.26 million elderly enroll under expanded PMJAY scheme
More than 9.26 million elderly individuals have enrolled in the expanded PMJAY scheme offering ₹5 lakh annual family cover, with plans to reach 60 million; 5.7 million are new beneficiaries.[1]
📅 2026-01

4. Number of life insurance policies surge to 18.4 million in Apr-Dec FY26
Life insurance policies sold rose to 18.4 million in April-December FY26 from 18.2 million YoY, boosted by GST exemption; LIC down 0.50% to 11.67 million, private up 5.74% to 6.82 million.[2]
📅 2026-01-17

5. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance spurts 0.67%, gains for fifth straight session
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd shares rose 0.67%, marking gains for the fifth straight session amid positive market sentiment.[2]
📅 2026-01

6. Budget 2026: Insurance sector seeks tax relief and higher Section 80D limits
Insurance experts urge Budget 2026 reforms including GST removal on premiums, revised Section 80D deductions to ₹50,000/₹1 lakh, and incentives for health/term insurance to address medical inflation.[3]
📅 2026-01

7. India's Insurance Shake-up: 2026 to emphasize prevention and AI
India's insurance sector to shift to proactive prevention, AI personalization, and wellness programs by 2026, reducing claims via early interventions amid high medical inflation.[4]
📅 2026-01

8. 2026 Insurance Outlook: Reforms on risk-based capital and composite licensing
IRDAI to implement risk-based capital from April 2026 and advance composite licensing, shifting to risk-aligned, capital-efficient growth in insurance.[5]
📅 2026-01

9. India Insurance Sector Demands Budget 2026 Reforms Beyond FDI
Sector calls for GST exemptions on life/health premiums, tax incentives for pure protection products, and composite licensing to close protection gap and boost pe*******on.[6]
📅 2026-01

10. Canara HSBC Life Insurance to convene board meeting on 21 January
Canara HSBC Life Insurance Co. scheduled a Board of Directors meeting for 21 January 2026.[7]
📅 2026-01

📰 *Top 10 Insurance & IRDAI News Today*

1. ESIC clears major expansion and infrastructure push nationwide
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) approved proposals to expand coverage, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and improve service delivery across India at its 197th meeting chaired by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.[1]
📅 2026-01-??

2. Linking motor insurance with FASTag could unlock ₹18,000 crore GST: GIC chief
Tapan Singhel, Chairman of General Insurance Council, suggested integrating motor insurance verification with FASTag to reduce uninsured vehicles and recover ₹18,000 crore in GST, while supporting caps on management expense ratios.[1]
📅 2026-01-??

3. Cyber insurance expands to cover trolling, stalking and identity theft
Cyber insurance in India is evolving to include protections against online trolling, cyber stalking, and identity theft, addressing personal and psychological impacts of digital threats.[1]
📅 2026-01-??

4. IRDAI eases norms for insurer investments in infrastructure SPVs
IRDAI removed the parent company guarantee requirement for insurers investing in infrastructure SPVs, potentially opening a stable investment avenue and supporting long-term infrastructure funding.[2]
📅 2026-01-??

5. Unclaimed amounts with life insurers decline to Rs 20,062 crore in FY24
IRDAI’s FY24 report showed unclaimed amounts with life insurers reduced by Rs 1,018 crore to Rs 20,062 crore, with calls for more data-driven efforts to close the protection gap.[2]
📅 2026-01-??

6. India Insurers Demand Tax Parity, Micro-Insurance Push for Budget 2026
Insurance industry seeks tax parity for retirement products, micro-insurance support with lower costs, and regulatory clarity on composite licensing ahead of Budget 2026.[3]
📅 2026-01-??

7. Insurance companies Q3FY26 preview: GST cuts to drive growth but profitability under pressure
Analysts expect GST rate cuts to boost life insurers’ premium growth, though input tax credit losses may pressure Q3FY26 margins.[4]
📅 2026-01-07

8. Axis Max Life extends Smart Term Plan Plus to students with up to Rs 2 crore cover
Axis Max Life Insurance extended its Smart Term Plan Plus to students, offering life cover up to Rs 2 crore for young adults pursuing higher education.[4]
📅 2026-01-07

9. Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025 published
The Amendment Act permits 100% FDI, relaxes reinsurance norms, extends life insurer obligations to all insurers, and allows perpetual registrations for intermediaries.[5]
📅 2025-12-21

10. India's Niyam gets in-principle approval to launch Lloyd's Syndicate 2047
Niyam received in-principle approval to launch Lloyd's Syndicate 2047, marking a development in India's reinsurance market.[7]
📅 2026-01-13