Functions of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

Life insurance business in India was being transacted by private companies until 1956. As a result of the long felt need and in the interest of insuring public, the life insurance business was nationalized in 1956. The nationalization resulted in the establishment of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) by an act of the Parliament. The Corporation was formed and began to function on September 1, 1956 by taking over 170 companies and 75 provident societies. The entire initial capital of Rs.5 crore was contributed by the government of India. The objective of nationalization was described by the then finance minister, C. D. Deshmukh as “to see that the gospel of insurance is spread as far and wide as possible so that we reach beyond the more advanced urban areas well into the hither to neglected rural areas.” The Corporation is a body corporate having perpetual succession with a common seal with powers to acquire, hold and dispose of property and may by its name sue and be sued.

Functions of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

The functions of the Life Insurance Corporation of India shall be to carry on and develop life insurance business to the best advantage of the community.

The Corporation shall have power;

  1. to carry on capital redemption business, annuity certain business or reinsurance business in so far as such reinsurance business relating to life insurance business;
  2. to invest the funds of the Corporation in such manner as the Corporation may think fit and to take all such steps as may be necessary or expedient for the protection or realization of any investment; including the taking over of and administering any property offered as security for the investment until a suitable opportunity arises for its disposal;
  3. to acquire, hold and dispose of any property for the purpose of its business;
  4. to transfer the whole or any part of the life insurance business carried on outside India to any other person or persons, if in the interest of the Corporation it is expedient so to do;
  5. to advance or lend money upon the security of any movable or immovable property or otherwise;
  6. to borrow or raise any money in such manner and upon such security as the Corporation may think fit;
  7. to carry on either by itself or through any subsidiary any other business in any case where such other business was being carried on by a subsidiary of an insurer whose controlled business has been transferred to and vested in the Corporation by this act;
  8. to carry on any other business which may seem to the Corporation to be capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with its business and calculated directly or indirectly to render profitable the business of the Corporation; and
  9. to do all such things as may be incidental or conducive to the proper exercise of any of the powers of the Corporation.

In the discharge of any of its functions the Corporation shall act so far as may be on business principles.

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