Insurance Investments

Introduction to Insurance Sector in India

Insurance in its basic   form   is defined as “A contract between two parties whereby one party called insurer undertakes in exchange for a fixed sum called premiums, to pay the other party called insured a fixed amount of money on the happening of a certain event.”

Insurance sector in India

The insurance sector in India has come a full circle from being an open competitive market to nationalisation and back to a liberalised market again. Tracing the developments in the Indian insurance sector reveals the 360-degree turn witnessed over a period of almost two centuries. Today Insurance Companies in India have grown manifold.… Read the rest

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Features of Life Insurance Contract

Human life is an income generating asset. This asset can be lost through unexpected death or made non functional through sickness or disability caused by an accident. On the other hand there is a certainty that death will happen, but its timing is uncertain. Life insurance protects against loss.

Life insurance contract may be defined as the contract, whereby the insurer in consideration of a premium undertakes to pay a certain sum of money either on the death of the insured or on the expiry of a fixed period. The definition of the life insurance contract is enlarged by Section 2(ii) of the Insurance Act 1938 by including annuity business.… Read the rest

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Role and Importance of Insurance

Insurance has become an integral aspect in everyone’s life today. It is a written contract of insurance that offers protection against future loss. The life insurance generally helps to insure the life of people. A definite compensation is provided by the insurer to the insured person. The non-life insurance provides financial support to people or companies and helps them to overcome the losses. The basic human trait is to be averse to the idea of taking risks. There is always an urge to minimize the risks and provide protection against possible failure. The risk includes fire, the perils of sea, death, accidents and burglary.… Read the rest

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Insurance – Definition, Principles and Functions

Life is a roller coaster ride and is full of twists and turns. Insurance policies are a safeguard against the uncertainties of life. As in all insurance, the insured transfers a risk to the insurer, receiving a policy and paying a premium in exchange. The risk assumed by the insurer is the risk of death of the insured in case of life insurance. Insurance policies cover the risk of life as well as other assets and valuables such as home, automobiles, jewelry etc. On the basis of the risk they cover, insurance policies can be classified into Life Insurance and General Insurance.  … Read the rest

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Evolution and Development of Life Insurance in India

Life insurance in the modern form was first set up in India through a British company called the Oriental Life Insurance Company in 1818 followed by the Bombay Assurance Company in 1823 and the Madras Equitable Life Insurance Society in 1829. All these companies operated in India but did not insure the lives of Indians. They insured the lives of Europeans living in India. Some of the companies that started later did provide insurance for Indians, as they were treated as “substandard”. Substandard in insurance parlance refers to lives with physical disability. Pioneering efforts of reformers and social workers like Raja Rammohan Ray, Dwarakanath Tagore, Ramatam Lahiri, Rustomji Cowasji and others led to entry of Indians in insurance business.… Read the rest

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