life insurance

UK's Prudential plc is acquiring a 75% stake in Bharti life insurance for Rs 3,500 crore, gaining operational control and marking a strategic reset for its India business. This move allows Prudential to deploy a wider product suite and leverage Bharti's domestic reach, aiming to boost insurance penetration in India.

India's top companies saw a significant market valuation surge last week, with Reliance Industries leading the gains. Despite a volatile trading period, the BSE Sensex managed a modest advance. While several giants added billions, others like Bharti Airtel and Hindustan Unilever experienced notable dips. Analysts point to global optimism and domestic buying as drivers for the market's recovery.

IRDAI, the insurance oversight body, is championing a revolutionary change by connecting CEO salaries to the happiness of customers, moving beyond traditional profit-centric models. This shift will likely introduce new guidelines governing executive pay and impose penalties on those who engage in misselling or deliver inadequate service.

Stock market recommendations: Motilal Oswal Wealth Management Research Desk recommends picking up Syrma SGS, and Max Financials as the top stocks for the trading week starting May 18, 2026:

Segment Grows 15.4% To ₹1.4L Cr, Standalone Insurers Account For 33% Of Total Premium

In a bid to enhance policyholder rights, insurance companies are required to resolve claims within 30 days, while investigations for health claims should conclude in 30-45 days, and for life policies, within 90 days. Failure to meet these deadlines results in interest penalties.

Indian markets experienced a significant downturn last week, with the top 10 most valued firms losing Rs 3.12 lakh crore. Geopolitical tensions, a weakening rupee, and rising inflation, exacerbated by surging crude oil prices, drove the decline. Reliance Industries saw the steepest fall, while Bharti Airtel was the sole gainer among the giants.

Shekhar Suman recounts a rare 1999 interview with Parveen Babi, who feared for her life and refused to come to the studio. The actress spoke of "certain individuals" in the film industry, leaving Suman conflicted. Despite the tension, he found it extraordinary, even sharing a memory of Babi making French onion soup for his crew.

Your walking speed could be a powerful predictor of how long you'll live, a new study reveals. Researchers found that simple physical measures like gait pace can outperform traditional health indicators like blood pressure in assessing mortality risk. This offers a cost-effective way for healthcare providers to identify individuals needing preventive care and empower people to live healthier lives.

Jan Suraksha programmes have paid out nearly Rs 25,160 crore in claims over a decade, with millions enrolled in life cover, accident insurance, and pension schemes. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the success of PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY in providing affordable social security, especially for vulnerable sections.

The central government has announced 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in insurance companies via the automatic route, enabling full foreign ownership. This move, aligning with the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act, 2025, aims to boost foreign participation, with IRDAI approval required. LIC remains an exception with a 20% FDI limit.

A nuanced understanding of the various ITR forms for FY 2025–26 is essential for globally mobile professionals, domestic salaried taxpayers, and individual investors

India has eased foreign investment rules, allowing up to 100% FDI in insurance and relaxing norms for investments from neighbouring countries. Companies with up to 10% Chinese holding can now invest via the automatic route, though entities registered in China itself are excluded. These changes aim to boost capital inflows amidst a weakening rupee.

Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam's manifesto, spanning 94 pages, outlines comprehensive promises for Tamil Nadu voters. Key pledges include monthly financial aid for women, free bus rides, and healthcare initiatives. The party also committed to youth development, farmer support, police reforms, and economic revival for MSMEs and weavers.

Dalal Street concluded the holiday-shortened week with gains, as the combined market valuation of India's top 10 firms surged by Rs 2.20 lakh crore, led by Reliance Industries. Despite a volatile trading environment and mixed global cues, investor sentiment remained resilient, with the BSE Sensex rising 0.32%.

'Too Expensive', Only 1-2% Of Homeowners in India Buy Policy: Experts

NSE's initial public offer received a significant boost as a majority of its shareholders agreed to divest their holdings for the offer for sale. The aggregate offering of shares has now surpassed the 4% limit of the exchange's total equity capital, paving the way for the IPO which could be valued at Rs 23,000 crore.

Maharashtra government is set to acquire the iconic Air India building in South Mumbai for Rs 1,600 crore. The Finance Department has released funds, paving the way for a deal with Air India Assets Holding Limited. This move aims to alleviate space crunch at Mantralaya and consolidate government offices, offering significant office space near the secretariat.

A large section of today’s workforce earns more than ₹15,000 but remains outside compulsory social security coverage. Raising the EPF wage ceiling seeks to bridge this gap by aligning statutory coverage with present day wage realities.

India's life insurance sector saw a robust 15.7% growth in new business premiums for FY26, reaching Rs 4.6 lakh crore. While overall policy sales rose modestly, private players like SBI Life gained market share. The individual segment showed strong gains, with group insurance proving crucial for stabilizing some insurers' portfolios.