Insurance Sector

Irdai grants health insurance licence to Prudential HCL joint venture

The Prudential-HCL Group joint venture becomes India's eighth standalone health insurer, with the regulator issuing its third registration of calendar year 2026

ESIC clears direct hospital management, extends unemployment benefit scheme

Corporation approves direct management of upcoming ESI hospitals, extends the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana till June 2027, and clears new medical education and healthcare initiatives

Generali Central General Insurance targets ₹10K cr premium in five years

The insurer plans to focus on profitable growth by expanding retail health, fire and SME insurance while reducing exposure to intensely competitive group health business

Irdai sets up working group to guide AI adoption in insurance sector

The working group will guide insurers on AI adoption, governance and oversight while ensuring policyholder interests and data protection remain safeguarded

Irdai proposes changes in investment rules for insurance companies

Insurance regulator proposes amendments covering mergers, promoter definitions and shareholding norms while reducing transaction fees to improve ease of doing business

Govt appoints Dinesh Pant and Girija Subramanian as Irdai members

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of LIC's Dinesh Pant and New India Assurance's Girija Subramanian as members of Irdai

CEOs quitting general insurance firms to pursue entrepreneurial ventures

The recent trend of CEOs exiting general insurance companies to pursue entrepreneurial ventures highlights the untapped investment potential in the sector, as India continues to remain an under-penetrated market. Some of the sector's most experienced professionals have moved away from established institutions and found funding support coming from the private equity side. For example, Neelesh Garg, former MD & CEO of Tata AIG General Insurance, has co-founded Kiwi General Insurance alongside US-based private equity firm WestBridge Capital. WestBridge holds approximately 70 per cent of the entity, with Garg holding a 30 per cent stake. Insurance regulator, IRDAI, granted Kiwi its certificate of registration in March 2026. Three months later, HDFC Ergo General Insurance MD and CEO Anuj Tyagi quit to pursue entrepreneurial aspirations. Subsequently, Anup Rau stepped down in March this year from the position of MD and CEO of Generali Central Insurance after a seven-year tenure that saw

Insurers wary as Irdai tightens executive compensation framework

Irdai's revised compensation norms linking executive pay to customer outcomes and compliance metrics have sparked concerns over growing regulatory intervention

Aviva Life targets 3x jump in annualised new business premium in 5 years

The insurer currently has around 350,000 customers and plans to increase annual customer additions from nearly 25,000 at present to 50,000 initially, before gradually scaling up to 75,000

Irdai asks insurers to link performance pay with customer service metrics

The insurance regulator has revised remuneration norms for senior executives, mandating stronger focus on claims settlement, grievance redressal and policyholder outcomes

LIC Q4 results: Net profit rises 23% to ₹23,420 crore on higher income

LIC reported a 23 per cent rise in fourth-quarter profit on higher premium and investment income, while FY26 profit touched a record Rs 57,419 crore

Irdai withholds variable pay of some insurers' CEOs over expense targets

Regulator's action follows unmet 'expense of management' targets

Star Health wants 65% of business to come from smaller cities: Anand Roy

Anand Roy talks regarding its ambitious plans to focus on tier II and tier III cities, the rising role of artificial intelligence, and security measures after the data breach incident

Prudential's India reboot comes with a distribution problem and growth test

Experts said lack of a strong bancassurance or agency network could remain a structural hurdle for Bharti Life Insurance, even as Prudential brings capital strength and experience in India

Irdai to frame Sabka Bima, Sabki Raksha Act norms within six months

Irdai said fresh regulations and amendments to existing insurance norms will be completed within six months of implementing the amended insurance law framework

Insurance cos must sell protection products first: SBI MD Ashwini Tewari

SBI Managing Director Ashwini Tewari says insurance firms should prioritise protection products over ULIPs and calls for stronger safeguards against mis-selling

GST Rationalisation impact: Share of high-value health policies doubles

Zero GST on retail health insurance boosts affordability, driving a sharp shift toward high-value policies as rising medical costs push demand for larger coverage

100% FDI in insurance: Global investors drawn to India's non-life market

Chubb, Old Mutual, Tiger Global Management, and Bain Capital are assessing India opportunities

Canara HSBC Life Insurance to expand tieups, says MD & CEO Anuj Mathur

Canara HSBC Life Insurance plans to reduce reliance on Canara Bank as it scales alternate distribution channels and sustains growth momentum

Geopolitical risks no longer rare for India's insurance industry

Rising geopolitical tensions are driving higher premiums, tighter underwriting and reinsurance costs, making risk pricing a structural shift for India's insurance sector