INDIAN INSURANCE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE IN 2015 - 2016 Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Ltd, Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company Ltd, Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Ltd, Religare Health Insurance Company Ltd and Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company Ltd are the private players involved in the insurance industry. The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India for Credit Insurance and Agriculture Insurance Company Ltd for crop insurance are specialized insurers.
During April 2015 to February 2016 period, the life insurance industry recorded a new premium income of Rs 1.072 trillion (US$ 15.75 billion), indicating a growth rate of 18.3 per cent. The general insurance industry recorded a 14.1 per cent growth in Gross Direct Premium underwritten in FY2016 up to the month of February 2016 at Rs 864.2 billion (US$ 12.7 billion).
The country’s insurance market is expected to quadruple in size over the next 10 years from its current size of US$ 60 billion. During this period, the life insurance market is slated to cross US$ 160 billion. The general insurance business in India is currently at Rs 78,000 crore (US$ 11.44 billion) premium per annum industry and is growing at a healthy rate of 17 per cent.
India currently accounts for less than 1.5 per cent of the world’s total insurance premiums and about 2 per cent of the world’s life insurance premiums despite being the second most populous nation. The country is the fifteenth largest insurance market in the world in terms of premium volume.
The Insurance sector in India is expected to attract over Rs 12,000 crore (US$ 1.76 billion) in 2016 as many foreign companies are expected to raise their stake in private sector insurance joint ventures. Foreign Direct Investment in the insurance sector stood at US$ 341 million in March-September, 2015, showing a growth of 152 per cent compared to the same period last year.
India's insurable population is anticipated to touch 750 million in 2020, with life expectancy reaching 74 years. Furthermore, life insurance is projected to comprise 35 per cent of total savings by the end of this decade, as against 26 per cent in during the last five year term. A growing awareness of the need for protection and retirement planning will support the growth of Indian insurance industry in the coming years.
