Ashwani Nexus

  As one of the old hands of of the insurance industry, I read the new paper reports on IIM Kozhikode paper/ report on Insurance for All with interest—and some curiosity. Industry or regulator-commissioned reports typically offer system-level recommendations: market structure, distribution, capital, technology, trust. They rarely comment on restructuring, demergers, or capitalization of specific institutions. Against that backdrop, references to LIC and public sector general insurers feel unusual. More puzzling is the logic of suggesting the breaking up of LIC—arguably a world-class institution and the “Pride of India”—at a time when policy thinking elsewhere favours consolidation to build global-scale financial institutions. If efficiency is the concern, current performance metrics show LIC broadly moving in line with industry trends. A larger question remains: if demerger is the route to efficiency, would the same parameters apply to private insurers too? And ...

    A few days ago, after i had participated in a panel discussion, a friend from the audience said, “I envy you. You speak so well. That’s a God-given gift.” That single remark took me back many years. Early in my career—and honestly, even in social settings—I avoided speaking up. In meetings, family discussions, or group forums, I would fumble, lose my train of thought, or go blank when unexpectedly asked to speak. Once, during an important discussion, I froze completely and someone else had to step in. The knowledge was there. The confidence was not. What changed my journey was a simple realization shared by a senior mentor over a cup of tea: speaking is not a talent, it is a skill. And skills are learned. Over time, I discovered that the habits that make someone a good speaker are not limited to boardrooms or professional forums. They apply everywhere—at work, at home, in social gatherings, community meetings, or even when speaking up for yourself. Here are the...

  Have you ever wondered how an insurance company can pay a ₹1 Crore life cover when you only paid a ₹15,000 premium? It’s not magic—it’s the power of the "Group." 1. Risk Pooling: The "Joint Family" Logic Imagine a small village in India where 1,000 young breadwinners decide to look out for each other. They each put ₹1,000 into a "Community Chest" every year. The Total Chest: ₹10,00,000. The Life Reality: Statistically, in a group of 1,000 healthy young people, the probability of someone passing away in a single year is very low—say, one person. The Support: If that one tragedy happens, the ₹10 Lakh chest is given to that family. In Life Insurance terms: This is "Mortality Risk Pooling." You aren't just buying a policy; you are joining a collective. The premiums of the many who live long, healthy lives provide the "Legacy" for the families of the few who leave too soon. 2. Reinsurance: ...

  😇 Professional musings – 2026 “Insurance for All by 2047” is an inspiring national objective. But inspiration alone will not deliver outcomes. As a long-time insurance professional, I believe it is time to pause and ask some hard, foundational questions—now, not in 2046. 👉 Can this goal be achieved merely through awareness campaigns, apps, and digital platforms? Or does it demand deeper work on product design, affordability, underwriting philosophy, distribution, data governance, and claims trust? 👉 Do we even have a common definition of Insurance for All? Is a person considered insured with just one life or health cover, or only when life, health, and key general insurance risks are adequately covered? 👉 Who exactly is the target population? Which segments should be protected through social security and group schemes, and which through individual insurance? How many citizens can realistically be covered through individual policies? 👉 What kind of simple, no-frills standar...

  The current discussion on commission and expense levels in life insurance, in the backdrop of proposed insurance law amendments and observations in the RBI Financial Stability Report, needs a factual and balanced reading—particularly with long term lens and taking a holistic view of things. To begin with, IRDAI has long had explicit powers to regulate commissions as well as overall expenses of management. This regulatory authority is not a new feature introduced by recent amendments. The present commission structure is compliant with relevant  IRDAI regulations. Now, let us look at the facts drawn from IRDAI Annual Reports, FY 2015–16 and FY 2024–25,  and various IRDAI data points. 🔹 Commission expenses as a percentage of premium for life insurers were 5.52% in FY 2015–16 🔹 This increased to 6.86% in FY 2024–25 In FY 2024–25: 🔹 Total premium grew by 6.73% 🔹 Commission expenses grew by 18% Over the same decade, several structural shifts occurred: 🔹 Life insurance p...