An insurance company is a financial institution that underwrites the risk of loss or damage to personal and business assets. Such a company can be for-profit, non-profit, or government-owned and sells the promise to get certain expenses in exchange for an everyday fee, called a premium.
A form of risk management, insurance is a way to save one from a financial or other loss. Insurance policies start from both small to large. The policies will be considered when there is a third-party who has done the damage.
For example, to secure the future of a child, parents sign a bond with an insurance company who ensures that after graduation or turning 18, the child will receive some money. Now, a certain amount of money is deposited by her/his parents every month.
On reaching 18, the insurance firm gives the child the entire money with interest added to it. In a way this secures his/her future plans with the help of capital investment.
Insurance is the most effective risk management tool which can protect individuals and businesses from financial and managerial risks.
Insurance is a legal contract between two parties – the insurance company (insurer) and the other individual (insured). This is where the insurer ensures that the insured will be compensated for the losses (which are foreseen as risks) under certain terms and conditions.
Some companies specialise in one or other of these areas, but others operate in both sectors.
Life Insurance Corporation of India
This is popularly known as LIC India. It is the largest life insurance company in India owned by the Government of India. The company came into existence in 1956. It has 2048 branch offices,113 divisional offices, 8 zonal offices, and 1381 satellite offices.
Currently, LIC’s total asset under management is USD 450 billion. It has over 29 crores policyholders. LIC offers great convenience to its customers through various branches across India, other tie-ups, and its excellent customer service on digital platforms.
Max Life Insurance Company
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Founded in the year 2000, it is the largest non-bank private sector insurance company in India. Max Life Insurance Company is a joint venture between Max India Ltd., a multi-business Indian corporate and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company.
Max Life’s assets are under the management and have touched the mark of INR 50,000 crores. Having a robust online presence and a broad portfolio of products, a multi-distribution channel, and 1090 offices across the country, this company has a customer base of more than 30 lakhs.
HDFC Life Insurance Company
Founded in the year 2000, HDFC Life offers a wide range of insurance and investment solutions to various customers across India. This is one of the top insurance companies in India which is a joint venture between Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (HDFC) and Standard Life Aberdeen, a global investment company. It serves its customers across the country with 412 branches and additional distribution touchpoints and bancassurance partners.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
One of the best insurance companies in India with strong multiple distribution channels and bancassurance channel, its total assets are worth INR 1604.10 billion. It is a joint venture between ICICI Bank and Prudential plc. It is the first insurance company in India that got enlisted in the domestic stock exchanges.
TATA AIA Life Insurance Company
A joint venture between Tata Sons Pvt Ltd., one of the largest business groups and AIA Group Ltd., Asia’s largest insurance group. TATA AIA Life Insurance Company’s assets are worth INR 28,430 crores as per 2019. With good customer service and simple solutions for unique insurances, it has emerged as a great insurance company.
Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company
Founded in the year 2006, it is a joint venture between AXA Group and Bharti Enterprises. This insurance company has strong financial expertise and domestic business excellence which in turn have laid a strong foundation for the company. This insurance company can be found in 123 cities across the country with a customer base of more than 10,50,000. It won the ASSOCHAM Award in March 2019 in recognition of excellence in the field of insurance.
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company
Founded in the year 2001, this firm is a joint venture between Bajaj Finserv Ltd., of Bajaj Group, and Allianz SE. It can offer innovative insurance solutions with the assistance of 759 branches across the country. Its outstanding digital presence led it to be recognized as the ‘Digital Marketer of the Year 2018.’
SBI Life Insurance Company
It is a joint venture between the State Bank of India (SBI) and BNP Paribas Cardif. SBI is India’s largest bank, and BNP Paribas Cardif is a French multinational financial services company. Holding a capital of INR 20 billion, the SBI Life Insurance Company has now extended itself to the multi-distribution channel. It has won the ‘Brand of the Year 2016-2017’ award in the insurance company category.
Birla Sun Life Insurance Company
Founded in the year 2000, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. It was formed by the coming together of Aditya Birla Group and Sun Life Financial, a leading international financial services organization in Canada. As of 31st December 2020, the net worth of this company is Rs. 3200 billion with 425 branches across the country, 9 bancassurance partners, 6 distribution channels, and more than 85,000 direct selling agents.
Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Company
This company was founded in the year 2001. Reliance has more than 10 million policyholders. It has a strong branch distribution of 727 branches. The company’s assets which are under management add up to Rs. 150 billion. It has received “Innovative Insurance Provider of the Year” at ET BFSI Excellence Awards 2019.
Here is a list of Life Insurance companies in India:
| Insurance Companies | Founded | Sector | Headquarters |
| Life Insurance Corporation of India | 1956 | Public | Mumbai |
| HDFC Standard Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2000 | Private | Mumbai |
| Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2000 | Private | Delhi |
| ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2000 | Private | Mumbai |
| Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2000 | Private | Mumbai |
| TATA AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| Exide Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Private | Bangalore |
| Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Private | Pune |
| PNB MetLife India Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Company | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| Aviva Life Insurance Company India Ltd. | 2002 | Private | Gurugram |
| Sahara India Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2004 | Private | Lucknow |
| Shriram Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2005 | Private | Hyderabad |
| Bharti AXA Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Private | Mumbai |
| Future Generali India Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2007 | Private | Mumbai |
| IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Private | Mumbai |
| Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Private | Gurugram |
| Aegon Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Private | Mumbai |
| Pramerica Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Private | Mumbai |
| Star Union Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2008 | Private | Mumbai |
| IndiaFirst Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2009 | Private | Mumbai |
| Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Co. Ltd. | 2011 | Private | Mumbai |
There is a list of non-life insurance companies as well. The list is as follows:
| Non-Life Insurance Companies In India | |||
| Insurance Companies | Founded | Sector | Headquarter |
| Acko General Insurance | 2016 | Private | Mumbai |
| Aditya Birla Health Insurance | 2015 | Private | Mumbai |
| Agriculture Insurance Company of India | 2002 | Public | New Delhi |
| Apollo Munich Health Insurance | 2007 | Private | Gurgaon |
| Bajaj Allianz General Insurance | 2001 | Private | Pune |
| Bharti AXA General Insurance | 2008 | Private | Mumbai |
| Cholamandalam MS General Insurance | 2001 | Private | Chennai |
| Cigna TTK | 1918 | Private | Mumbai |
| DHFL General Insurance | 2016 | Private | Mumbai |
| Digit Insurance | 2017 | Private | Pune |
| Edelweiss General Insurance | 2017 | Private | Mumbai |
| Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India | 1957 | Private | Mumbai |
| Future Generali India Insurance | 2007 | Private | Mumbai |
| HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company | 2002 | Private | Mumbai |
| ICICI Lombard | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance | 2000 | Private | Gurugram |
| Kotak Mahindra General Insurance | 2015 | Private | Mumbai |
| Liberty General Insurance | 2013 | Private | Mumbai |
| Magma HDI General Insurance | 2009 | Private | Mumbai |
| Max Bupa Health Insurance | 2008 | Private | New Delhi |
| National Insurance Company | 1906 | Public | Kolkata |
| New India Assurance | 1919 | Public | Mumbai |
| Raheja QBE General Insurance | 2007 | Private | Mumbai |
| Reliance General Insurance | 2000 | Private | Mumbai |
| Reliance Health Insurance | 2017 | Private | Mumbai |
| Religare Health Insurance Company Limited | 2012 | Private | Gurgaon |
| Royal Sundaram General Insurance | 2000 | Private | Chennai |
| SBI General Insurance | 2010 | Private | Mumbai |
| Shriram General Insurance | 2008 | Private | Jaipur |
| Star Health and Allied Insurance | 2006 | Private | Chennai |
| Tata AIG General Insurance | 2001 | Private | Mumbai |
| The Oriental Insurance Company | 1947 | Public | New Delhi |
| United India Insurance Company | 1938 | Public | Chennai |
| Universal Sompo General Insurance Company | 2007 | Private | Mumbai |
Conclusion
Insurance firms use the premium they receive to settle regular claims. They come up with extra financial gain and profit by investing their funds in money securities, significantly overseas and within the UK. They have fixed-interest bonds.
Life insurance business, above all, as a result of its future written agreement nature, is very contributive to giving long investment returns to policyholders.