GIC Re may face more pressure as lower capital norms draw foreign reinsurers
The reduction in capital requirements for foreign reinsurance branches (FRBs) under the latest Insurance Amendment Bill is expected to attract more overseas players into India’s ₹98,000-crore reinsurance market. This may potentially intensify competition and further erode the market share of state-owned General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re).

PB Fintech, HDFC Life, SBI Life in focus – Is the commission cap in Insurance Bill a concern?
The government has tabled the long-awaited insurance amendment bill, Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha, in Parliament.  Most of its provisions were on expected lines, barring one. According to a research note published by Nomura on December 17, the bill gives the insurance regulator, IRDAI, the authority to impose commission caps on distributors. 

TRAI fixes Feb 15 deadline for 1600-series adoption by IRDAI-regulated entities for service calls
New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated that entities regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) should adopt, by February 15, 2026, the '1600' series numbers for making service and transactional calls to consumers. TRAI said the direction has been issued with the objective of enhancing consumer trust, curbing spam and preventing fraudulent activities perpetrated through voice calls. The series, it said, will enable people to reliably identify legitimate calls originating from such regulated entities.

Cap not only deterrent for FDI in insurance sector
Despite the government’s push to allow 100% foreign investments in the insurance sector through the Insurance Bill, 2025, experts caution that foreign capital may not flow in easily unless long-standing concerns around governance control, residency norms and regulatory hurdles are addressed.

FDI for growth: Foreign participation in insurance should raise competition
  

Insurance Amendment Bill: High-commission intermediaries may see payout cut
 

Irdai proposes allowing insurers to invest up to 20% in infra SPV debt
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) on Thursday proposed permitting insurers to invest up to 20 per cent of their funds in debt instruments issued by public limited special purpose vehicles (SPVs) operating in the infrastructure sector, provided the project has commenced commercial operations and its cash flows have stabilised. According to the draft proposal, the proceeds from such debt issuances must be used exclusively to refinance existing debt or loans of the SPV. The underlying debt must be classified as standard in the lender’s books, and the issued instruments must carry a minimum credit rating of AA to qualify as approved investments.

LIC launches two new insurance products to boost life cover, savings
New Delhi: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) on Wednesday launched two new insurance products—LIC’s Protection Plus and LIC’s Bima Kavach—aimed at offering flexible savings-linked coverage and long-term risk protection. The plans were unveiled by R Doraiswamy, CEO & MD, LIC. LIC’s Protection Plus is a non-participating, linked individual life insurance-cum-savings plan that combines life cover with investment flexibility. Policyholders can choose investment funds, vary the sum assured, make top-up premium payments and opt for partial withdrawals after five years. Entry age ranges from 18 to 65 years, with policy terms of 10 to 25 years and premium-paying terms of 5, 7, 10 or 15 years. On maturity, the unit fund value is paid along with a refund of mortality charges.

LIC’s Bima Kavach is a non-linked, non-participating pure risk plan offering guaranteed death benefits. It provides options for level or increasing sum assured, flexible premium payment modes, and policy terms extending up to age 100. The plan also allows enhancement of cover at key life-stage events such as marriage or childbirth. Special premium rates are available for women and non-smokers, along with benefits for high sum assured policies. Further details are available on LIC’s website.

LIC says insurance amendment to increase coverage
LIC says proposed changes to ‘Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha’ Bill will strengthen its reach, leverage technology at scale
The Hindu Business Line

Insurance amendment Bill strengthens Irdai: LIC chief R Doraiswamy
 

Health insurance companies are quietly bringing back claims-based loading
 

SEBI allows sale of debt securities at lower face value of ₹10,000
New Delhi: Markets regulator SEBI on Thursday relaxed rules to allow issuers to sell debt securities at a lower face value of ₹10,000 even if they are zero-coupon instruments, provided they have a fixed maturity and no structured obligations. As a result, issuers can now issue debt securities at a reduced face value that are either interest-bearing or zero-coupon in nature, according to a circular issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

OFS dominance in IPOs: Sebi chief says investors should be free to exit
Source Credit: Benn Kochuveedan, New Indian Express

 

Pension sector set for full foreign ownership as FDI cap rises to 100%
India’s pension sector is poised for a structural shift, with the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit set to be raised to 100%, in line with the insurance sector.

EPFO urges employers to avail of Employee Enrolment Scheme
 

New mutual fund expense ratios: Here’s how much you will pay now for equity, debt and ETFs
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved a sweeping change in the way mutual fund expenses are charged and disclosed, a move that is expected to make investing more transparent and investor-friendly.

AMC stocks surge on higher cap for brokerage charges
Share prices of asset management companies surged in Thursday’s trade a day after the Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) board increased the brokerage fees from the proposed 2% to 6%.

Mutual fund expenses under Sebi’s new rules: A guide for investors
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Wednesday introduced a series of regulations for mutual funds, with changes to expense structures likely to have the most direct impact on investors.

MFs expect minimal impact due to revamped fee structure
Mumbai: The capital market regulator SEBI’s move to cut expense ratios of asset management companies (AMCs) will have minimal impact on the mutual fund industry as it prepares to rework its costs before the new norms come into force from April 1, 2026.

SEBI's mutual fund expense reforms set to boost investor transparency despite near-term AMC pressure: Report
Mumbai (Maharashtra): The Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) decision on Wednesday to overhaul mutual fund expense regulations is expected to enhance long-term investor outcomes, even as it creates near-term pressure on asset management companies (AMCs), according to a research analysis by Centrum.

RBI announces ₹30,000 crore G-Sec underwriting auction, releases OMO purchase results
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday announced that an underwriting auction, for the sale of Government Securities amounting to ₹30,000 crore, will be held tomorrow. The apex bank also released the cut-off details for its Open Market Operation (OMO) purchase of Government of India securities conducted today. According to the RBI, the Government of India has notified the sale (re-issue) of two Government Securities through an auction scheduled for tomorrow. The securities on offer include ₹18,000 crore of 6.01 per cent Government Security maturing in 2030 and ₹12,000 crore of 7.09 per cent Government Security maturing in 2074.