This article is based on
“Keeping it Saral” which was published in The Hindu
Businessline on 22/10/2020. It talks about the journey of the insurance sector in
India and its associated issues.
Insurance is the main element in the operation of national economies throughout the
world today. It protects health and assets of the people and stimulates business
activities to operate in a cost-effective manner.
Citing this, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has
released guidelines for the insurance sector i.e. Saral Jeevan Bima (SJB). Saral
Jeewan Bima provides for broad contours of a standard individual term life
insurance product which must be adhered by insurance companies.
While India’s insurance sector has been growing dynamically in recent years, its
share in the global insurance market remains abysmally low.
There are many underlying issues which affect the insurance sector in India such as
low penetration and density rates, inadequate investment in insurance products, and
the dominant position and deteriorating financial health of public-sector players.
Therefore, the goal of making insurance accessible to all will remain difficult to
achieve, until the above mentioned issues are addressed.
Background of Insurance Sector
The insurance sector has witnessed many changes over the years including:
Nationalisation of life (LIC Act 1956) and non-life sectors (GIC Act 1972).
Constitution of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of
India (IRDAI) in 1999.
Opening up of the sector to both private and foreign players in 2000.
Increase in the foreign investment cap to 26% from 49% in 2015.
The recent notification of 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) for
insurance intermediaries (announced in the Union Budget of 2019-20)
has further liberalised the sector.
Saral Jeevan Bima
With SJB, IRDA envisages to increase penetration of insurance in India. Under this
scheme:
Standardisation: IRDA has come up with guidelines for a “standard"
product—Saral Jeevan Bima—specifying the terms and conditions,
benefits, and features that life insurance companies must include.
Thereby, making it simpler for individuals to buy a term insurance policy.
o SJB will make it easier for the customers to make an
informed choice, enhance the trust between the insurers and
the insured, and reduce mis-selling as well as potential
disputes at the time of claiming settlement.
Inclusive: The product guidelines mention that insurers should offer the
product without restrictions on gender, place of residence, travel,
occupation, or educational qualifications.
Securing Interests of Insurers: Insurers will not be liable for a payout if
the policyholder dies within 45 days of taking the policy except in case of
accident.
Challenges in India’s Insurance sector
Prevalence of Insurance Gap: The insurance penetration (ratio of total
premium to GDP (gross domestic product)) and density (ratio of total
premium to population) stood at 3.69% and US$ 73, respectively for FY18
(fiscal year 2017-18), which is low in comparison with global levels.
o These low penetration and density rates reveal the uninsured
nature of large sections of population in India, and the
presence of an insurance gap.
Public Sector Dominated: The insurance sector has transitioned from
being an exclusive State monopoly to a competitive market, but public-
sector insurers hold a greater share of the insurance market even though
they are fewer in number.
Nascent Non-life Insurance: Life insurance dominates the sector with a
huge share of 74.7%, with non-life insurance accounting for the
remaining 25.3%.
o In the non-life insurance sector, motor, health, and crop
insurance segments are driving growth. India’s non-life
insurance penetration is below 1%.
o In addition, insurance products catering to speciality risks
such as catastrophes and cyber security are at a nascent
stage of development in the country.
Rural-Urban Divide: Low insurance penetration and density rates prevail
in India. However, Rural participation of insurers remains deficient, and
life insurers, especially private ones, gravitate towards the urban
population.
Capital Starved Insurers: Insurers in India lack sufficient capital, and
their financial health, particularly that of the public-sector insurers, is in a
precarious state.
o Further, investment in the insurance sector got dwindled due
to the crisis in banks and NBFCs (non-banking financial
companies) sector.
Way Forward
Rural Centric Approach: Insurance companies in India will have to show
long-term commitment to the rural sector as well, and will have to design
products which are suitable for rural people.
o In this context, government insurance schemes such
as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal
Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana,
and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana are notable
steps in right direction.
Need For Awareness Program: There is a need for complementary thrust
to spread awareness and improve financial literacy, particularly the
concept of insurance, and its importance.
Technological Intervention: Another area that necessitates regulatory
scrutiny is that of application of technology in insurance. An example is
the emergence of ‘InsurTech’, designed to make the claim process
simpler and more comprehensible.
Enhanced Role of Regulator: The regulator needs to exercise vigilance
on three other aspects.
o It must ensure that insurance is not denied to lower-income
people who make up the bulk of the population and have the
most need for protection.
o It should insist that insurers facilitate a simple online process
for direct buying of insurance products, bypassing
intermediaries.
o It should ensure that players do not overcharge or add hidden
costs.
Conclusion
Demographic factors, coupled with increasing awareness and financial literacy, are
likely to catalyse the growth of the sector. An enhanced regulatory regime that
focuses on increasing insurance coverage is the need of the hour.
Drishti Mains Question
Discuss the significance of the insurance sector in Indian economy and its underlying issues.
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