Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION
1.1.1 History
The story of insurance is probably as old as the story of mankind. The same instinct that
prompts modern businessman today to secure themselves against loss and disaster existed in
primitive men also. They too sought to avert the evil consequences of fire and flood and loss
of life and were willing to make some sort of sacrifice in order to achieve security. Though
the concept of insurance is largely a development of the recent past, particularly after the
industrial era – past few centuries – yet its beginnings date almost 6000 years. Life Insurance
in its modern form came to India from England in the year 1818. Oriental Life Insurance
Company started by Europeans in Calcutta was the first Life insurance company on Indian
Soil. All the insurance companies established during that period were brought up with the
purpose of looking after the needs of European community and Indian natives were not being
insured by these companies. However, later with the efforts of eminent people like Babu
Muttylal seal, the foreign life insurance companies started insuring Indian lives. But Indian
lives were being treated as sub- standard lives and heavy extra premiums were being charged
on them. Bombay Mutual Life Assurance Society heralded the birth of first Indian life
insurance company in the year 1870, and covered Indian lives at normal rates. Starting as
Indian enterprise with highly patriotic motives, insurance companies came into existence to
carry the message of insurance and social security through insurance to various sectors of
society. Bharat Insurance Company (1896) was also one of such companies inspired by
nationalism. The Swadeshi movement of 1905-1907 gave rise to more insurance companies.
The United Indian in Madras, National Indian and National Insurance in Calcutta and the Co-
operative Assurance at Lahore were established in 1906. In 1907, Hindustan Co-operative
Insurance Company took its birth in one of the rooms of the Jorasanko, house of the great
poet Rabindranath Tagore, in Calcutta. The Indian Mercantile, General Assurance and
Swadeshi Life (later Bombay Life) were some of the companies established during the same
period. Prior to 1912 Indian had no legislation to regulate insurance business. In the year
1912, the Life Insurance Companies Act, and the provident Fund Act were passed. The Life
Insurance Companies Act, 1912 made it necessary that the premium rate tables and periodical
valuations of companies should be certified by an actuary. But the Act discriminated between
foreign and Indian companies on many accounts, putting the Indian companies at a
disadvantage.
The first two decades of the twentieth century saw lot of growth in insurance business from
44 companies with total business-in-force as Rs.22.44 Crore, it rose to 176 companies with
total business-in-force as Rs.298 Crore in 1938. During the mushrooming of insurance
companies many financially unsound concerns were also floated which failed miserably. The
Insurance Act 1938 was the first legislation governing not only life insurance but also non-
life insurance to provide strict state control over insurance business. The demand for
nationalization of life insurance industry was made repeatedly in the past but it gathered
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momentum in 1944 when a bill to amend the Life Insurance Act 1938 was introduced in the
Legislative Assembly. However, it was much later on the 19th of January, 1956, that life
insurance in India was nationalized. About 154 Indian insurance companies, 16 non-Indian
companies and 75 provident were operating in India at the time of nationalization.
Nationalization was accomplished in two stages; initially the management of the companies
was taken over by means of an Ordinance, and later, the ownership too by means of a
comprehensive bill.
In India Insurance has a deep-rooted history it finds mention in the writing of Manu (Manu
Smriti) Yagnavalkya (Dharmasastra) and Kautilya (Arthasastra). The writings talk in terms of
pulling of resources that could be redistributed in times of calamities such as fires, floods,
epidemics etc. This was probably precursor to modern day insurance. Ancient Indian history
has preserved the earliest traces of insurance in the form of marine trade loans and carriers
contracts. Insurance in India has evolved overtime heavily drawing from other countries,
England in particular.
As an overview of the Indian Insurance sector it may be said that with largest no of Life
Insurance Policies inforce in the world, Insurance happens to be a mega opportunity in India.
It is a business growing at the rate of 15-20 percent annually & presently is of the order of Rs
450 billion. Together with banking services, it adds about 7% to the country’s GDP. Gross
Premium collection is nearly 2% of GDP & funds available with LIC for investments are 8%
of GDP.
The life insurance market was opened to private players because of low penetration of life
insurance, non availability of customer oriented products, low level of customer satisfaction,
higher premium rates and lack of professionalism on the part of the insurer and a very low
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spread of life insurance in the country. In addition, signing of the GATT (General Agreement
on Tariff and Trade) made way for the opening of the insurance sector to global players. The
opening of the Indian insurance sector was aimed at fostering competition and innovation
with greater variety of product and growth of the insurance business. This thesis will
highlight the post liberalization scenario in the life insurance sector in India to see whether
the objective behind the opening of the life insurance have been achieved or on the right
direction towards achieving the objective laid down by the policy makers. There are 24 life
insurers including LIC of India as on 31st December 2016. A well developed & evolved
insurance sector is needed for economic development as it provides long-term funds for
infrastructure development & at the same time strengthens the risk-taking ability. It is
estimated that over the next ten years India would require investments of the order of 1
trillion US $ . The insurance sector, to some extent can enable investments in infrastructure
development to sustain economic growth of the country.
About us
Every day we wake up to the fact that more than 250 million lives are part of our family
called LIC.
We are humbled by the magnitude of the responsibility we carry and realize the lives that are
associated with us are very valuable indeed.
Though this journey started over five decades ago, we are still conscious of the fact that,
while insurance may be a business for us, being part of millions of lives every day for the
past 59 years has been a process called TRUST.
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A true saga Of Trust.
Table 1.1 Milestone of insurance regulation in the 20th & 21st Century
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1938 The Insurance Act: comprehensive Act to Regulate business in India
1956 Nationalization of life insurance business in India with monopoly awarded to LIC of
India
IRA
1997 The Government gives greater Authority to LIC, GIC and its subsidiaries with regards
1998 The cabinet decides to allow 40% foreign equity in private insurance companies and
1999 The Standing Committee headed by Murali Deora decides that foreign equity in private
insurance should be limited to 26%. IRA bill is renamed the Insurance Regulatory and
2000 President gives Assent to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Bill
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2002 Establishment of Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (protection of policy
holders interest) Regulations.
2014 IRDA renamed IRDAI i.e., Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India by
promulgation of Insurance Laws (Amendment ordinance,2014, by the President of India
on Dec 26,2014)
1.2.1 Mission
“ Ensures and enhance the quality of life of people through financial security by providing
products and services of aspired attributes with competitive returns, and by rendering
resouces for economic development”
1.2.2 Vision
“A trans-nationally competitive financial conglomerate of significance to societies and Pride
of India”
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The journey of Indian Insurance Industry has so far been very eventful in the way that it has
come in full circle from privatization of insurance firms to creation of monopoly and back to
privatization and liberalization. The journey can be divided into three phases viz. pre
nationalization phase (Before 1956), nationalized era (1956-2000) and liberalization era
(2000 onwards). The first phase was the long growth phase before the nationalization of life
insurance and characterized by unfettered market access. In the second phase the entire sector
become state monopoly. The third phase after 2000 was of liberalization and was
characterized by several new players competing with the large public sector giant i.e. LIC of
India. Insurance Regularity and Development Authority (IRDA) has now undertaken the sole
responsibility to control and regulate insurance business.
The Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance Corporation Act on the 19th of June 1956,
and the Life Insurance Corporation of India was created on 1st September, 1956, with the
objective of spreading life insurance much more widely and in particular to the rural areas
with a reach all insurable persons in the country, providing them adequate financial cover at a
reasonable cost. LIC had 5 zonal offices, 33 divisional offices and 212 branch offices, apart
from its corporate office in the year 1956. Since life insurance contracts are long term
contracts and during the currency of the policy it requires a variety of services need was felt
in the later years to expand the operations and place a branch office at each district
headquarter. Re-organization of LIC took place and large numbers of new branch offices
were opened.
Today LIC functions with 2048 fully computerized branch offices, 113 divisional offices,8
zonal offices,1401 Satellite offices and the Corporate office,1240 mini offices,2169 life
plus,33992 premium points. LIC’s Wide Area Network covers 113 divisional offices and
connects all the branches through a Metro Area Network. LIC has tied up with some Banks
and Service provider to offer on-line premium collection facility in selective cities. LIC’s
ECS and ATM premium payment facility is an addition to customer convenience.
Apart from on-line Kiosks and IVRS, Info centres have been commissioned at Mumbai,
Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi, Pune and many other
cities. With a vision of providing easy access to its policyholders, LIC has launched its
SATELLITE SAMPARK offices. The satellite offices are smaller, leaner and closer to the
customer. The digitalized records of the satellite offices will facilitate anywhere servicing and
many other convenience in the future.
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LIC continues to be the dominant life insurer even in the liberalized scenario of Indian
insurance and is moving fast on a new growth trajectory surpassing its own past records.
During the Financial Year 2015-16 LIC has procured 2.05 crore new policies as against 2.02
crore in the previous year registering a marginal growth of 1.23%. As on 15th January 2017,
LIC has achieved total first premium of Rs 27350.67 crore & total no. of policy 1,23,85,968.
During this period LIC has shown huge growth of an individual single premium count i.e., on
First Premium Income 167.75% & on No of Policy (NOP) 35.88%. As on 31st December,
2016 LIC has captured 71.75%. Market share on premium & 74.76% on No of Policy (NOP).
From then to now, LIC has crossed many milestones and has set unprecedented performance
records in various aspects of life insurance business. The same motives which inspired our
forefathers to bring insurance into existence in this country inspire us at LIC to take this
message of protection to light the lamps of security on as many homes as possible and to help
the people in providing security to their families.
1.2.4 Advantages:
1. Life insurance provides an infusion of cash for dealing with the adverse financial
consequences of the insured’s death.
2. Life insurance enjoys favorable tax treatment unlike any other financial instrument.
3. Death benefits are generally income-tax-free to the beneficiary.
4. Death benefits may be estate-tax free if the policy is owned properly.
5. Cash values grow tax deferred during the insured’s lifetime.
6. Cash value withdrawals are treated on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis, therefore cash
value withdrawals up to the total premiums paid are generally income-tax free.
7. Policy loans are income tax free.
A life insurance policy may be exchanged for another life insurance policy (or for an annuity)
without incurring current taxation.
1.2.5 Disadvantages:
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1.3 SWOT ANALYSIS:
Strengths 1.Largest state owned insurance company in India, and also the
country’s largest investor.
2.Have over 2000 branches across all parts of India and more than
10,00,000 agents.
3.Withy largest fund base it is the biggest investor in India.
4.Has over 1,15,000 employees across in India.
5.According to the Brand Trust Report, LIC is the 8th most trusted
brand of India.
6.LIC has subsidiaries like LIC Housing Finance Limited, LIC Cards
Services Limited, LIC Nomura Mutual Fund, LIC(Nepal)Ltd.
Weaknesses 1.It has an image of a Government agency and hence lacks innovation.
2.Being a Government agency, red tape and bureaucracy causes
problems.
3.Managing a huge work force during economic crisis meant
overburdened due to salaries.
Opportunities 1.Use of Technology to provide effective services to cater to
urban population.
2.Government Schemes implementation.
Threats 1.Economic crisis.
2.Entry of new NBFCs in the sector.
3.Varying Govt policies.
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LIC-An Institution Builder promoting many financial and insurance institutes
like NSE, NCDEX, LIC Mutual Fund, Stock Holding Corporation of India,
National Insurance Academy, Insurance Institute of India etc.
LIC is the second largest PC user in the country.
We have in our basket of different plans catering to the changing needs of
different segment of the society-basic insurance plans (whole life, endowment
and money back), Term Assurance Plans, Pension Plans, Capital market linked
Plans etc.
5) Term Plans:-
Anmol Jeevan - || (Table 822)
Amulya Jeevan-|| (Table 823)
6) Pension Plans :-
Jeevan Akshay- V| (Table 189)
New Jeevan Nidhi (Table 818)
PMV Vandhana Yojna (Table 842)
7) ULIP Plans:-
New Endowment Plus (Table 835)
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8) Health Plans :-
Jeevan Arogy (Table 904)
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Goregaon(East),Mumb
ai-400063
13 Aviva Life Insurance Mr.T.R.Ramachan Mr.Sanjeeb Tel:012-270 90000/01
Company India dran Kumar Fax: 0124-270 9007.
Limited
Aviva Tower,Sector
Road, Opposite Golf
Cource,
DLF-Phase V, Sector-
43, Gurgaon- 122003
14 Sahara India Life Mr Sanjay Mr.Pravir Tel:0522-2329568
Insurance Co.Ltd Agarwal, Chandra Fax:0522-2332683
#1,SaharaIndia MD & CEO E-mail-
Bhawan, Kopoorthala sanjay.agarwal@life.sahara
Complex, .co.in
Lucknow 226024
15 Shiram Life Insurance MrManoj Kumar Mr Michael Board:+914023009400
Co. Ltd Jain Frylinck
Ramky Selenium, Plot
No 31 & 32 Beside
Andhra Bank Training
Centre, Financial
District,
Gachibowli,Hydrabad-
500032
16 Bharti AXA Life Mr.Sandeep Mr.Rajeev Tel:022-40306300/6301
Insurance Company Ghosh Kumar Fax:022-40306347
Ltd
601-602 6th Floor,
Raheja Titanium off
Western Express
Highway Goregaon (E)
Mumbai-400063
17 Future Generali India Mr Munish Sharda Mr. Bikash Tel No:022-40976802
Life Insurance MD & CEO Choudhary Fax no:022-40976600
Company Limited Munish.sharda@futuregene
6th Floor, Tower – 3, rali.in
Indiabulls Finance
Centre,
SenapatiBapatMarg,
Eliphinstone Road(W),
Mumbai-400013
18 IDBI Federal Life Mr Vighnesh Ms. Pournima Tel No:022-66552836
Insurance Company Sahane Gupte Email:vighnesh.shahane@i
Ltd. dbifederal.com
Tradeview, 1st Floor,
Oasis Complex,
Kamala City,
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P.B.Marg, Lower Panel
(W),
Mumbai-400013
19 Canara HSBC Oriental Mr.John David Mr. Tel:0124-4535500
Bank of Commerce Holden ChiragShamjiRat Fax: 0124 4535999
Life Insurance CEO & WTD hod
Company Ltd
Augustia Point, 2nd
Floor, DLF Golf
Course Road, Sector-
53, Gurgaon-Haryana
(INDIA) 122002
20 AEGON Religare Life Mr K S Patrick Cutrin Tel No:022 61180100
Insurance Company Gopalakrishnan Fax No:022 67293333
Limited Email:ks.gopalakrishnan@
Building No 3, Third aegonreligare.com
Floor, Unit No.1 Nesco
IT Park, Western
Express Highway,
Goregaon(E)
Mumbai-400063
21 DHFL Pramerica Life MrAnoop Kumar Mr. Pradeep Ph.no-
Insurance Co.Ltd Pabby Kumar Thapliyal +911244697000(BOARD)
4th Floor Tower B, (MD & CEO) Fax no-01244697100/200
Building No.-9, DLF Anoop.pabby@dhflprameri
Cyber city, Phase-III, ca.com
Gurgaon-122002.
22 Star Union Dai-ichi Mr.GirishPandura Mr.ISambasivaR Phone:022-39546211
Life Insurance Co.Ltd ngKulkarni ao e-mail:ceo@sudlife.in
Star house 3rd (MD & CEO)
floor,(West Wing), C-
5,Bandra-
kurlaComplex,Bandra(
East),
Mumbai-400051
23 IndianFirst Life Dr.P.Nandagopal Mr.Chandan Phone:022 39418700
Insurance Company Kumar Fax:022 33259500
Limited Khasnobis
301,B Wing, The
Qube,Infinity Park,
Dindoshi-Film City
Road,Malad(East),Mu
mbai-400097
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24 Edelweiss Tokio Life Mr Deepak Mittal Ms.Anuradha Tel No:022 40636015
Insurance Co. Ltd. Lal Fax No:022 43428161
Edelwess House, off
C.S.T. Road, Kalina,
Mumbai: 400098
Premium can be paid through the ATMs of Corporation Bank and AXIS Bank.ICICI
bank provides this facility to all the customers registered for EBPP(Electronic Build
Presentation on Payment) .This service is available for Corporation Bank and AXIS
Bank Account Holder who are also our policy holders. Policy information will be
available at the ATM during the days of grace for premium payment. On payment of
premium, the policyholder will get an acknowledgement receipt from the ATM and
later on, a designated Branch will send the actual receipt to the policyholder.
Online collection of premium through AXIS Bank : Renewal premium can be paid at
all Axis Bank Branches either by using AXIS Bank cheque and/or by cash. A receipt
is generated by the Bank and signed on behalf of LIC by the AXIS Bank Official and
handed over to the customer.
4) Premium Points:
Some agents who are high performers are given the benefit of having a premium
point at their own place from where any premium can be collected on behalf of
L.I.C .
So this may be called a new channel of premium payment.
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this chapter for different countries including India. Of the researches, insurer’s
efficiency improvement has been the main concern.
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In this study my main objective is :-
3. Literature Review
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1. R.Kumar and K.Vaidya(2004) -in their article tiled, “Differentiation Strategies of
Insurance Companies” had studied that customer relationship management tools must be
used extensively and effectively to identify cross selling opportunities. They had also
foreseen the use of e-service, namely, customer service through Internet that could play a
major role in facilitating the process of servicing insurance products to their policy
holders.
2. H.S. Sandhu and N. Bala (2006) - in their article “Marketing of Life Insurance Services
Revisited” have suggested that life insurance sector had grown with time. Its importance
had significantly increased in the post liberalization era. The study concluded that owing
to the changing and newly evolving scenarios in the life insurance industry, the research
needs to be expanded further by including various other aspects like the role of
information technology, bank assurance and customer relationship management.
3. B.S. Bodla and S.Verma (2007) - in their article entitled, “Life Insurance Policies in
Rural Area: Understanding Buyer Behaviour” have showed that the maximum number of
policyholders belonged to the age group of 31- 40 years, and 70 per cent of them had a
monthly income of 8000 and only 12 per cent of the total respondents were females. Most
of the respondents were from private business and had an education only up to school
level. Agents were found to be the main source of information and motivation to rural
people. LIC had the maximum (93%) penetration in the rural market as compared to other
players with the most preferred policy being the money back policy followed by
endowment policies. The role of advertisement was found to be able to make an impact to
motivate rural people to buy insurance policies. It was also observed that people had less
faith in private players.
4. H. Delport et. (2011) -in their article entitled, “Relationship Intention of South African
Banking and Life Insurance Customers” have found that the banking and life insurance
firms were now focusing on retaining and building long-term relationships with their
existing customer base by implementing a relationship marketing strategy. However, they
found that not all customers were willing to invest in building long-term relationships. So,
firms needed to identify and target those customers who had a high relationship intention
that is those who intend to support long-term relationships with the firm they are currently
associated with.
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5. R. Jampala and V. Rao (2007) -in their article on “Distribution Channels of LIC” have
found that although a number of intermediaries or distribution channels like corporate
agents, brokers and referrals had emerged over time, LIC was not able to capitalize on
them and hence could not make good business from these channels. They had bemoaned
that during the year 2004-05, the new distribution channels contributed just 1.12 per cent
of total business of LIC. However, the effect of these emerging distribution channels on
the private players was significant as their business grew by 40.70 per cent during 2004-
05. The study concluded that unless LIC uses these new emerging distribution channels
effectively and efficiently, it cannot survive in the highly competitive insurance market.
LIC needs to find new measures and apply them to improve its business further.
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4: DATA COLLECTION & RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter analyses the effect of liberalization on the market structure in terms of
concentration of life insurance industry. This chapter first discusses the concept of
concentration and gives measurement in various indicators.
Research is the systematic process of collecting and analysing information to
increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study. It is the function of the
researcher to contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon and to communicate that
to others.
a) Primary Data- is the data, which is collected directly by direct personal interview,
indirect oral investigation, survey, information received through local agents,
Questionaire to observe the customers, policy holders, personal observation.
Various books
Magazine and material.
Internet.
Facts sheets of various LIC holders.
The data which is stored in the organization and provide by the FINANCE people are
also secondary data. The various information is taken out regarding that subject as well
other subject from various souces and stored. The last year data can also be secondary
data. This data is kept for the internal use of the organization. In this report data plays a
very crucial role.
The research is qualitative and descriptive in nature. Qualitative research is that talk
about the quality of the subject to be researched and Descriptive research is one that
describes things as exist in present.
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4.3.1 Sources of data
Primary Sources- I have used questionnaire as primary source for collecting data for my
study.
Secondary sources- I had collected my secondary data from website & journals.
4.3.2. Sampling
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6: DATA ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION
10% 14%
Excellent
Very good
33% Good
Average
43%
Interpretation: The above study shows that the overall rating for LIC in India has been
very good from time to time. That means people in India have relied on LIC’s different
investment plans.
a) Yes b) No
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Have you taken any new policies?
27%
73%
no yes
29%
48%
23%
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Interpretation: After sales service, LIC had introduced new things for customers
such as mobile registration & sms alert, provide LIC details through email registration,
collection of renewal premium through insurance advisors and customers get happy.
From this chart, we came to know that 50% customer agree to buy a new policy
10%
15%
75%
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25%
20% 55%
Interpretation: After 1991 the Indian Life Insurance industry has geared up in all
respects, as well as it is being forced to face a lot competition from many national and
international private insurance players. Because LIC continuously lunching its various
products with attractive scheme to threaten the incumbents.
6. How do you perceive the future of LICI in this open market i.e.
Liberalized Era?
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Future of LICI
5%
14%
81%
Interpretation: Once upon a time LIC plays a monopoly role, after liberalization many
private players had included. In liberalized era financial service had improved in the
competitive market & perfectly designed plans for every segment of customers. So the 75%
customers perception is that future of LIC may increase.
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7. RESULT FINDINGS
The outcome from the above study it is clear that LIC achieves it goals slowly but definitely.
It launches different investment scheme which help both rich and poor people to save
something for betterment of their future. LIC ease its premium payment procedures by
launching “ Direct Pay” facility which helps the policyholder to make payment easily through
their bank account via internet banking facility within a due date. As we know many private
incumbents enter into the market but reliance of the people with LIC product is positive and
strong.
The main findings of the study shows that the market share of LIC increases day by day
instead of private players remain in the market. Which help the company to grow and achieve
its mission, vision and objective in sound way.
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8.LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The importance of the project lies in the fact that the liberalization is an important phase of
insurance industry. The need for private entry has been justified on various grounds such as
enhancing the efficiency of operation, achieving a greater density and penetration of life
insurance in the country, greater mobilization of long term saving etc. However there are
emerging issues in the light of liberalization which required constant monitoring of the
policy programs. And there is little research in these aspects. Present study will strengthen the
knowledge and literature in the field and also helpful to policy programs, potential insurers,
researchers, academicians and general readers who are interested in Indian life insurance
sector. Over all, the thesis is expected to provide a brief over view on the over all impact of
insurance sector reform measures on life insurance sector in India. There are many other
issues or effects of liberalization and all of them cannot be examined here .The main problem
faced was the dearth of data. Due to time lag in publishing of official data, the data
considered was from financial year 2001-02 to 2009-10. Sometimes, there was lack of
consistency and uniformity in the format of the data or annual reports published. Therefore
the study has limited itself to analyze and interpret the impact to f insurance liberalization on
the topics of concentration, efficiency, productivity and innovation.
Time :The time available for preparing this project is found to be inadequate .As
insurance sector is a very vast and dynamic sector so due to time limit many pertinent
issues governing the insurance sector could not be studied in depth.
Data: The whole change in insurance sector & insurance products (since 2000) has been
analyzed on the basis of all India data collected from different sources. There is every
possibility that may be some relevant data is left due inaccessibility to that data.
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9. RECOMMENDATION
Innovations are the introduction or adoption of new ideas, process, product or services,
developed internally or acquired from external environment. The adoption of innovation
flows from and is contingent upon an organization‘s repertoire of technical, strategic and
administrative skills. Liberalization has given way for establishment of new companies in
Insurance sector and consequently competition is leading to innovation. Therefore this
chapter of the thesis examines new innovations visible in the wake of insurance sector‘s
liberalization.
1: Product
2: Customer services
3: Marketing Strategies
1: Product
Products offered before liberalization and after liberalization are given in this section. Before
liberalization, the range of product available was very limited. India has an enormous middle
class that can afford to buy life insurance product as per their need. However after the
liberalization, there was a major change in the insurance product offered by the insurance
companies and insurance services covers opted for by the customers. It is difficult to specify
exact number of policies or product that LIC or others have, since time to time; some
products were introduced or withdrawn with small variation of time and may be counted as
new product.
2: Customer Services
With liberalization of insurance sector, it has become very important for insurers to improve customer
satisfaction and loyalty. In fact, service quality is an important means of differentiation and path to
achieve business success in the competitive environment. Customer service is a derivative of a mix of
human reactions influenced by a host stimuli emanating from within and outside the organization. Any
improvement in customer services cannot be attained in isolation, unless the entire gamut of factors
affecting it is taken into account and managed properly. Customers and employees need active
participation in the process of developing a healthy relationship which involves a thorough overhaul of
the approach of insurance company towards customer relations management.
Admission Of Age:-
Age is the main basis of calculation of premium under life insurance policies.
The following are accepted as evidence of age:
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Certified extract from Municipal or Local Body’s records made at the time of birth.
Certificate of Baptism or Certified Extract from Family Bible, if it contains age or date of birth.
Certified Extract from School or College records, if age or date of birth is stated therein.
Certified Extract from Service Register in the case of Govt. employees and employees of Quasi-
Govt. Institutions or
Passport issued by the Passport Authorities in India.
Payment Of Premium:
By cash, local cheque (subject to realization of cheque), Demand Draft at Branch Office.
The DD and cheques or Money Order may be sent by post.
You can pay your premiums at any of our Branches as 99% of our Branches are networked.
Many Banks do accept standing instructions to remit the premiums. So by providing a standing
instruction to your Bank to debit your account for the premium amount and send it vide a banker’s
cheque to LIC, on the due dates and months mentioned on your policy bond.
Through Internet : Payment of premiums can be made through Internet through Service Providers
viz. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Times of Money, Bill Junction, UTI Bank, Bank of Punjab,
Citibank, Corporation Bank, Federal Bank and Bill Desk.
Premium payment can also be made through ATMs of Corporation Bank and UTI Bank.
Premium payment can also be made through Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) which has been
launched at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Kanpur, Bangalore, Vijayawada,
Patna, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Trivandrum, Ahmadabad, Pune, Goa and Nagpur, Secunderabad &
Visakhapatnam. A policyholder having an account in any Bank which is a Member of the local
Clearing House can opt for ECS debit to pay premiums. The policyholders wishing to use this
system would have to fill up a Mandate Form available at our Branches/DO and get it certified by
the Bank. The certified Mandate Forms are to be submitted to our BO/DO.
Citibank Kiosks at Industrial Assurance Building, Church gate, New India Building, Santacruz,
Jeevan Shikha Building, Borivili are dedicated for collection of premiums through cheques.
Days Of Grace:
Policyholder should pay the premiums on due dates. However, a grace period of one month but not
less than 30 days will be allowed for payment of yearly/half-yearly/quarterly premiums and 15 days
for monthly premiums.
When the days of grace expire on a Sunday or a public holiday, the premium may be paid on the
following working day to keep the policy in force.
If the premium is not paid before the expiry of the days of grace, the policy lapses.
If the policy has lapsed, it can be revived during the life time of the life assured, within a period of
five years from the date of the first unpaid premium but before the date of maturity subject to
certain conditions.
The Corporation offers three convenient schemes of revival viz., Ordinary Revival, Special Revival
and Installment Revival. Policies can also be revived under Loan-cum-Revival and SB-cum-
Revival schemes.
Request for revival may be made to the Branch Office servicing the policy.
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Change Of Address And Transfer Of Policy Records:
The policyholder should immediately intimate the change of his/her address to the Branch Office
servicing the policy. The correct address facilitates better service and quicker settlement of claims.
Policy records can also be transferred from one Branch Office to another for servicing, as requested
by the policyholder.
The Policy Document is an evidence of the contract between the Insurer and the Insured. Hence the
policyholder should preserve the Policy Bond till the contracted amount under it is settled.
Loss of the Policy Document should be immediately intimated to the Branch Office where it is
serviced.
Loans:-
Loans are granted on policies to the extent of 90% of Surrender Value of the policies which are in
force and 85% of the Surrender Value in case of policies which are paid-up, inclusive of the cash
value of bonus. The rate of interest charged at present is 9% p.a. payable half-yearly.
Loans are not granted for a period shorter than six months. The Conditions and Privileges printed
on the back of the Policy Bond states whether a particular policy is with or without the loan facility.
Relief To Policyholders:-
The Corporation generally allows concessions on payment of premiums, settlement of claims, issue
of duplicate policies, etc when the policyholder are affected by natural calamities such as droughts,
cyclones, floods, earthquakes, etc.
Nomination:-
Nomination is a right conferred on the holder of a Policy of Life Assurance on his own life to
appoint a person/s to receive policy moneys in the event of the policy becoming a claim by the
assureds’ death. The Nominee does not get any other benefit except to receive the policy moneys
on the death of the Life Assured. A nomination may be changed or cancelled by the life assured
whenever he likes without the consent of the Nominee.
Ensure nomination exists in the policy for easy settlement of claims.
Assignment:-
Assignment means transfer of rights, title and interest. When an assignment is executed, all rights,
title and interest in respect of the property assigned are immediately transferred to the Assignee/s
and the Assignee/s become the owner/s of the policy subject to any lawful condition made in the
assignment.
Assignment can be either conditional or absolute. On assignment (other than to LIC), Nomination
automatically stands cancelled. Hence, when such a policy is reassigned, the policyholder will have
to make a fresh nomination to avoid delay in settlement of claim.
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LIC settles survival benefit/maturity claims on or before the due date.
Policyholder are intimated well in advance by the Branch Office which services the policy
regarding the payment, and the necessary Discharge Voucher is also sent for execution by the
assured. In case the policyholder does not get any intimation from the Branch Office concerned,
he/she should contact them, quoting the Policy Number.
Survival Benefit payment up to Rs.60,000/- are settled without insisting for Policy Bond and
Discharge Voucher.
Death Claims:-
If the life assured dies during the term of the policy, death claim arises. The death of the
policyholder should be immediately intimated in writing to the Branch Office where the policy is
serviced along with the following particulars:
1. The No./s of the policy/ies
2. The name of the policyholder
3. Death Certificate issued by concerned Authority
4. The date of death
5. The cause of death and
6. Claimant’s relationship with the deceased
On receipt of the intimation of death, necessary claim forms are sent by the Branch Office for
completion along with instructions regarding the procedure to be followed by the claimant.
The claims which have arisen after a period of three years are treated as non-early claims and
settled within 30 days from the date of receipt of all requirements.
The claims that have arisen within a period of two years from the date of commencement of the
policy, are treated as early claims and investigation is compulsory in such cases.
The claim is usually payable to the nominee/assignee or the legal heirs, as the case may be.
However, if the deceased policyholder has not nominated/assigned the policy or if he/she has not
made a suitable provision regarding the policy moneys by way of a Will, the claim is payable to the
holder of a Succession Certificate or some such evidence of title from a Court of Law.
The Corporation grants claims concessions under certain Plans whereby payment of full sum
assured is made, subject to the deduction of unpaid premiums with interest till the date of death and
unpaid premiums falling due before the next anniversary of the policy, in the event of the death of
the life assured within a period of six months or one year from the date of the first unpaid premium,
provided premiums have been paid for at least three years and five years respectively.
The Corporation settles a large number of Death Claims every year. Only in case of fraudulent suppression
of material information is the liability repudiated. This is to ensure that claims are not paid to fraudulent
persons at the cost of honest policyholders. The number of Death Claims repudiated is, however, very
small. Even in these cases, an opportunity is given to the claimant to make a representation for
consideration by the Review Committees of the Zonal office and the Central Office. As a result of such
review, depending on the merits of each case, appropriate decisions are taken. The Claims Review
Committees of the Central and Zonal Offices have among their Members, a retired High Court/District
Court Judge. This has helped providing transparency and confidence in our operations and has resulted in
greater satisfaction among claimants, policyholders and public.
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3: Marketing Strategies
Marketing includes all those activities carried on to transfer goods and services from manufacturer to
consumer. Marketing channels are sets of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a
product or services available to customers. Marketing mix is a unique combination of basic ingredients of
marketing viz. product, price, and place i.e. channels of distribution and promotion. Insurance being a
service business requires marketing department to play a key role in delivery of services. Private sector entry
has brought with it a transformation not only in product choice but also in the way life insurance is
distributed. Previously, agents provided the primary method of acquiring new policies in India as they
originated almost all of the LIC's business. This trend is an Asia-wide phenomenon as most of the business
of life insurers in Asia is originated by agents.
LIC has been one of the pioneering organizations in India who introduced the leverage of Information
Technology in servicing and in their business. Data pertaining to almost 10 crore policies is being held
on computers in LIC. We have gone in for relevant and appropriate technology over the years.
1964 saw the introduction of computers in LIC. Unit Record Machines introduced in late 1950’s were
phased out in 1980’s and replaced by Microprocessors based computers in Branch and Divisional
Offices for Back Office Computerization. Standardization of Hardware and Software commenced in
1990’s. Standard Computer Packages were developed and implemented for Ordinary and Salary
Savings Scheme (SSS) Policies.
With a view to enhancing customer responsiveness and services , in July 1995, LIC started a drive of
On Line Service to Policyholders and Agents through Computer. This on line service enabled
policyholders to receive immediate policy status report , prompt acceptance of their premium and get
Revival Quotation, Loan Quotation on demand. Incorporating change of address can be done on line.
Quicker completion of proposals and dispatch of policy documents have become a reality. All our 2048
branches across the country have been covered under front-end operations. Thus all our 100 divisional
offices have achieved the distinction of 100% branch computerisation. New payment related Modules
pertaining to both ordinary & SSS policies have been added to the Front End Package catering to Loan,
Claims and Development Officers’ Appraisal. All these modules help to reduce time-lag and ensure
accuracy.
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WIDE AREA NETWORK
All 7 Zonal Offices and all the MAN centres are connected through a Wide Area Network (WAN). This
will enable a customer to view his policy data and pay premium from any branch of any MAN city. As
at November 2005, we have 91 centers in India with more than 2035 branches networked under WAN.
IVRS has already been made functional in 59 centers all over the country. This would enable customers
to ring up LIC and receive information (e.g. next premium due, Status, Loan Amount, Maturity
payment due, Accumulated Bonus etc.) about their policies on the telephone. This information could
also be faxed on demand to the customer.
Our Internet site is an information bank. We have displayed information about LIC & its offices. Efforts
are on to upgrade our web site to make it dynamic and interactive. The addresses/e-mail Ids of our
Zonal Offices, Zonal Training Centers, Management Development Center, Overseas Branches,
Divisional Offices and also all Branch Offices with a view to speed up the communication process.
INFORMATION KIOSKS
We have set up 150 Interactive Touch screen based Multimedia KIOSKS in prime locations in metros
and some major cities for dissemination information to general public on our products and services.
These KIOSKS are enable to provide policy details and accept premium payments.
INFO CENTRES
We have also set up 8 call centres, manned by skilled employees to provide you with information about
our Products, Policy Services, Branch addresses and other organizational information.
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10.SUGGESTIONS
There are almost 25 Crore policyholders of LIC & LIC works as trustee for its policyholders. Every year
LIC earns huge amount of premium & that money is invested in different funds. Premium is used in
different developmental and nation building activities. The funds in which LIC invests money are Life Fund,
Pension & General Annuity Fund, Group Fund and Unit Linked Fund etc. Every year LIC invests huge
amount of money in life fund. The money invested in life fund is used for infrastructural development in
India. Life fund money is used to make new housing complexes, roadways, railways, ports & bridges & to
develop power supply, irrigational facility, water supply & sewerage system and to develop existing roads,
railways and bridges . Term assurance /traditional insurance products are the inflow to the life fund, as
traditional insurance products help to generate long term funds. The premium earned from traditional
insurance products is invested in nation building activities.
But current product portfolio of LIC is highly skewed in favor of single premium plans. At present, 82-
83% of LIC’s business from new policy sales comes from it. Single premium plans contributed 76% of
LIC’s new business premium in 2013-14.LIC sold 1.79 cr. conventional products. In case of new policy
sales 82-83% policy sold is ULIP in 2007-08; only 17-18% policy sold is conventional policy. Now
from 2008, LIC is trying to shift its focus from unit linked plans to traditional insurance plans in order
to ensure long term growth.
LIC has life long growth we can identify from the survey.
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11.CONCLUSION
The current reforms in Indian insurance sector have facilitated many functional changes over the past decade.
This study aims to provide an assessment of deregulation with respect to industry scenario, concentration,
efficiency, productivity and innovation in the Indian life insurance industry. Customers services in private
companies far outway the facilities offered in the public sector LIC. It was found that LIC has reinvented its
strategies to stay abreast with IRDA regulations and provide varied facilities to its customers. Majority of the
respondants were of the opinions that the services provided by private companies have re-defined the whole
concept of Insurance. When LIC was the only insurance company customers were at a disadvantage due to its
monopoly position & seller oriented selling of Life Insurance products.
However, in the post Liberalised Era Life Insurance products are now need based & customer centries.
Customers have shown a clear preference for private Life Insurance. Companies due to their persistent
efforts to build new client & written existing clients. There is definitely a shift of customers preference but
this would be even more evident if private companies continue to re-invent themselves, develope customer
need based product, eliminate mis-selling & concentrate on customer satisfaction as its main prerogative.
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12. ANNEXURE
3) Does after sales service help out to sell a policy to an existing customer?
4) Is it helpful to the customers of LIC to have various alternative premium payment channel?
6) How do you perceive the future of LICI in this open market liberalized Era?
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13: BIBLIOGRAPHY
1: Kumar Jogendra (2005), “Insurance: Industry on Growth Path”, Life Insurance Today, 1(9),6-10
2.Annual Reports of LIC from 1999-2000 to 2007 to 2013
6: www.google.com
7:www.licindia.com
8:www.irdagovt.com
10: www.licofindia.com
12: www.irdaact.co.in
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