Insurance is the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another in exchange for payment. It is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. There are different kinds of insurance including Auto Insurance, Health Insurance, Fire Insurance to protect against financial loss in events of accidents and deaths. This article introduces the readers to the Life Insurance Corporation History in India. Insurance is divided into 2 broad categories:

• Life Insurance
• General Insurance

History of Life Insurance
The technique of pooling of resources to be re-distributed in times of calamities and emergencies like fire, floods, famine and epidemics is not new in India. This concept of insurance finds mention in the writings of Manu’s Manusmiriti, Yagnavalkya’s Dharmasastra and Kautilya’s Arthasastra. Insurance records in the form of Marine trade loans and carrier’s contracts exist dating ancient times. Over time, the concept of Insurance evolved in India drawing heavily from other countries, particularly England.

Timeline of Life Insurance Companies

• 1818: Establishment of the Oriental Life Insurance Company in Calcutta. This company failed in 1834.


• 1829: Madras Equitable started transacting life insurance business in the Madras Presidency.


• 1870: British Insurance Act enacted, Industry back then was dominated by foreign insurance offices which did good business in India.


• 1914: Government of India started publishing returns of Insurance Companies in India.


• 1912: The Indian Life Assurance Companies Act, the first statutory measure to regulate life business was enacted.


• 1928: Indian Insurance Companies Act was enacted. This act enabled the Government to collect statistical information about both life and non-life business transacted in India by Indian and foreign insurers including provident insurance societies.


• 1938: Insurance Act, 1938 amended previous act and consolidated it with comprehensive provisions for effective control over the activities of insurers.


• 1950: The Insurance Amendment Act abolished Principal Agencies. However, due to fierce competition and allegations of unfair trade practices, The Government of India, decided to nationalize insurance business.


• 1956: Insurance sector was nationalized and Life Insurance Corporation came into existence.