Public Sector Insurance Companies

Life Insurance Corporation of India

LIC of India was incorporated on 1st September, 1956 by amalgamating 243 Companies by the Act of Parliament called Insurance Act, 1956. LIC is governed by the Insurance Act 1938, LIC Act 1956, LIC Regulations 1959 and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act 1999. As on 31st March, 2016, LIC has 8 Zonal Offices, 113 Divisional Offices, 2048 Branch Offices, 73 Customer Zones, 1401 Satellite Offices and 1240 Mini Offices in India.

The Corporation has Branch Offices in Fiji, Mauritius and United Kingdom. It also operates through Joint Venture(JV) Companies in overseas Insurance Market, namely Life Insurance Corporation (International) B.S.C.(c), registered in Manama (Bahrain); Kenindia Assurance Company Ltd. registered in Nairobi; Life Insurance Corporation (Nepal) Ltd. registered in Kathmandu; Life Insurance Corporation (Lanka) Ltd. registered in Colombo and Saudi Indian Company for Co-operative Insurance(SICCI) registered in Riyadh. LIC has also formed a Joint Venture Company Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of Bangladesh Limited between Life Insurance Corporation of India, Strategic Equity Management Ltd and Mutual Trust Bank Ltd on 14.12.2015. A Wholly owned subsidiary, Life Insurance Corporation (Singapore) Pte Ltd. has been established on 30.4.2012. Among the above two joint ventures (JVs), Kenindia Assurance Co. Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya and Saudi Indian Company for Co-operative Insurance (SICCI), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are composite companies transacting life and non-life business; and two JVs, LIC (Nepal) Ltd. &SICCI are listed on their respective Stock Exchanges.

GENERAL INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA

The General insurance industry was nationalized in 1972 and 107 insurers were grouped and amalgamated into four Companies – National Insurance Co. Ltd., The New India Assurance Co. Ltd., The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. and United India Insurance Co. Ltd. The GIC was incorporated in the year 1972 and the other four companies became its subsidiaries. In November 2000, GIC was notified as the Indian Reinsurer, and its supervisory role over its subsidiaries was brought to an end. From 21 March 2003, GIC's role as a holding company of its subsidiaries also came to an end and the ownership of the subsidiaries was transferred to the Government of India. The Corporation has its head office in Mumbai and 3 liaison offices in India (Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai), 3 branches in foreign countries (London, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur) and 1 representative office in Moscow. It also has 2 foreign subsidiaries (GIC Re South Africa and GIC Re India Corporate Member Ltd. in UK). As on 31.03.2016 the employee strength of the Corporation is 558. The authorized capital is Ra.1000 crore while the paid-up equity capital of the company is Rs.430 crore.

THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

The company was founded by Sir Dorabji Tata on July 23rd, 1919 and nationalized in 1973 with merger of Indian companies. The Company has 2329 offices and the employee strength is 18783 as on 31.03.2016. The company provides insurance services to the customers having over 170 products catering to almost all segments of general insurance business. The authorized capital and paid-up equity capital of the company is Rs.300 crore and Rs.200 crore respectively.

UNITED INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

United India Insurance Company Limited was incorporated in 1938. With the nationalization of General Insurance business in India, 12 Indian Insurance Companies, 4 Cooperative Insurance Societies and Indian operations of 5 Foreign Insurers, besides General Insurance operations of southern region of Life Insurance Corporation of India were merged with United India Insurance Company Limited. The Company has 2080 offices and employee strength of 16345 as on 31.03.2016. The company provides insurance services to the customers catering to almost all segments of general insurance business. The authorized capital and paid-up equity capital of the company is Rs.200 crore and Rs.150 crore respectively.

THE ORIENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

The Oriental Insurance Company Ltd was incorporated in the year 1947. In 2003 all shares of the company held by the General Insurance Corporation of India were transferred to the Government of India. The Company has 1924 offices in the country and has employee strength of 13923 as on 31.03.2016. The company provides insurance services to the customers catering to almost all segments of general insurance business. The authorized capital and paid-up equity capital of the company is Rs.200 crore.

NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED

The Company was incorporated in the year 1906. After nationalization it was merged, along with 21 foreign and 11 Indian companies, to form National Insurance Company Ltd. The Company has 1998 offices all over India and employee strength of 15079 as on 31.03.2016. The company provides insurance services to the customers catering to almost all segments of general insurance business. The authorized capital and paid-up equity capital of the company is Rs.200 crore and Rs.100 crore respectively.

AGRICULTURE INSURANCE COMPANY OF INDIA LIMITED

'Agriculture Insurance Company Of India Limited’ (AIC) was incorporated to exclusively cater to the insurance needs of the persons engaged in agriculture and allied activities in India under the Companies Act, 1956 on 20th December 2002. General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), NABARD and four public sector general insurance companies have contributed towards the share capital of the Company. The Authorized Share Capital of the Company is Rs. 1500 crore with initial Paid-up Equity Share Capital of the Company of Rs. 200 crore.

The Company having received approval from Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA) commenced its business operations w. e. f. 1st April, 2003. The total number of employees as on 31st March, 2015 is 274 all over the country. It has its Head Office in New Delhi, 17 Regional Offices in various State Capitals and 3 one man offices at District levels.