This book traces the development and analyses the performance of life insurance industry in India, since inception of this sector, using different business indicators over the years. It discusses the evolution and changing features of the Indian insurance industry in 3 phases: phase I from 1818 to 1956, phase II from 1956 to 2000 (known as the nationalisation period) and phase III post 2000 (called the post reform period). The book also measures the relative efficiency and productivity of the life insurance industry in India for the post-reform period, by employing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Despite the fact that the life insurance sector recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% in terms of total premiums and 21% in terms of new business premium collections during the post reform period, the insurers continue to grapple with the issue of profitability. Against this background, the book presents results on the factors determining profitability of the life insurance companies using measures of efficiency and competition. By helping regulatory authorities determine the future course of action in the context of entry of foreign insurers and also in establishing a level playing field, the book has important policy implications.

The book examines the trends of premium collection and investment portfolio of LICI and selected private life insurers in India in order to compare their performances. Life insurance organizations in India are significant financial institutions in the Indian financial system and play a major role in mobilizing insurance premium from the household sectors and investing it in the financial markets for productive purposes. The book aims to assist life insurance companies in evaluating their performance in terms of their premium mobilization and investment in Government and other approved securities, infrastructure securities, securities approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and other than approved securities as per the provision of IRDA (Investment) (Fifth Amendment) Regulation, 2013. Against this backdrop, the theme of the book is particularly relevant because life insurance companies play a vital role in channelizing small savings into productive sector investment to promote economic development of the nation.

Since inception the Indian life insurance industry passed through many hurdles and hindrances in order to attain the present status. However, the income earning capacity, eagerness and awareness of the general public are the key determinants of the growth of any insurance industry. In the Indian context, the insurance habits among the general public during the independence decade was rare but there was a remarkable improvement in the Indian insurance industry soon after the economic reform era (1991) due to healthy competition from many national as well as international private insurance players. In this paper attempt has been made to analyse the overall performance of Life Insurance Industry of India between pre- and post economic reform era. To measure the current status, volume of competitions and challenges faced by the Life Insurance Corporation of India and to measure the effectiveness of investment strategy of LIC over the period 1980 to 2009. Data were analysed by using T test and Anova. The study reveals that there is a tremendous growth in the performance of Indian Life Insurance industry and LIC due to the policy of LPG. Insurance industry also improved a lot due to the emergence of Private sector and opening up for foreign players. Further there is also a huge change in the investment pattern of LIC. There is a increasing trend toward the investment in Stock market by LIC from 60% to 93% from 1980 to 2009 due to the effective regulation of SEBI and increasing transparency of stock market.

Seventeen in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 190 economies, Doing Business 2020 measures aspects of regulation affecting 10 areas of everyday business activity.