The JV, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance (ETLI), will soon apply to the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority to get its nod to start operations, which may take eight months to one year time from now, Edelweiss Capital's Chairman Rashesh Shah said.
India's insurance industry is set for a makeover as it seeks to survive and grow in a changed environment that dawned on September 1. With a three-month spat over who will regulate unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips) settled, the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (Irda) in July announced sweeping changes to the way insurance companies do business.
They want to take advantage of the few days remaining before the IRDA's new guidelines on Ulips come into force. What has also added to the rush is the fall in the sale of big-ticket, single-premium covers and Ulips in the current financial year as individuals are holding on to big-ticket purchases, especially where the returns are linked to the equity markets. For insurers, big-ticket policies mean a lower lapse rate and it translates into higher commission for agents.
After a slump in sales in January, life insurance companies saw 36 per cent rise in new premium income during February.
A committee headed by Irda's member actuary R Kannan has suggested a grace period of 15 days for policyholders who pay premium on a monthly basis, while a 30 days grace period will be available to those who pay their premium annually, half-yearly or quarterly.
The rules are being reviewed for the first time after the sector was opened to private competition at the start of the decade.
J Hari Narayan, chairman, Irda, said, "We will address the issue of policy exclusions, claim settlement period and the definition of critical illness. All these norms will form a part of the health insurance guidelines."
After life insurance products, the sector's regulator is now turning its attention to unit-linked insurance products (ULIP) that guarantee the highest net asset value (NAV) over its term.
Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla, in an impromptu chat with reporters, sided with Sebi, while Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia cited the spat to make a case for setting up a Financial Development and Stability Council (FSDC).
The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority has capped the charges from the fifth year to around four per cent of the annual premium paid.
The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (Irda) is planning to cap the charges on universal life policies, or ULPs. These have almost replaced unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips) in terms of new business. Ulips, which used to account for around 80 per cent of the segment, lost their sheen after the regulator brought in stringent norms from September 1.
Hemendra Kothari, the former chairman of DSP Merrill Lynch, is set to acquire Ambuja Cements' stake in ING Vysya Life Insurance for around Rs 190 crore.
Life Insurance Corporation of India has asked the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority to allow it a shareholding of up to 20 per cent in a company.
The Hinduja group is learnt to be looking at alternative means of financing, including private credit, to fund its Rs 9,661 crore all-cash offer to acquire Reliance Capital. The regulator, Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (Irdai), had earlier rejected the collateral offered by the group to raise funds. The Hinduja group was in talks with Barclays, JPMorgan, Cerberus Capital Management and Apollo Global Management to raise up to $850 million.
Compared to a third party insurance buying comprehensive insurance makes more sense, says Neeraj Gupta
Foreign direct investment in the pension sector is likely to be pegged at 26 per cent initially and six players with at least one public sector undertaking would be allowed to operate as pension fund managers.
The Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission had in a report last year proposed a unified regulator for the entire financial sector -- markets, insurance, commodities and pension. It had, however, proposed to keep banking out of its purview for now.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances