



Govt clears 100% FDI, composite licences in sweeping insurance reforms
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The government has paved the way for 100% foreign direct investment in the insurance sector, composite licences and easier capital requirements, among other sweeping reforms, as the Union Cabinet cleared the enabling legislation, said two officials aware of the matter. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill is expected to be introduced in both houses of Parliament next week, the first of the two officials quoted above said.
The bill allows a differential licensing regime to support micro-insurers serving low-income and rural populations and paves the way for captive insurers — allowing conglomerates to establish in-house insurers to manage group-level risks, according to both the people quoted earlier, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. India currently caps FDI in the insurance sector at 74%. No FDI cap and easier rules are aimed at driving investments, as India has among the lowest insurance penetration among large global economies.
According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority’s FY24 annual report, India’s insurance penetration fell to 3.7% from 4% in FY23 against the global average of 7%. The insurance amendment bill was slated for introduction in the Budget Session, but was delayed as the ministry of finance sought to add provisions on 100% FDI and ease of operational considerations for foreign investors. That required fresh vetting by the law ministry.
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