Archive · 9 Oct 2026
LIC Leads Individual Premium Growth as Private New Business Expands Faster
LIC’s individual policy premiums grew faster than private insurers’ in September 2026.
LIC grew about 15%, while private insurers grew about 7% in that measure.
But private insurers collected new policy premiums faster overall, both in September and from April to September.
Different insurers had very different results: HDFC Life had strong individual-premium growth, while some others declined.
These numbers show how insurers’ businesses are changing, not how many people bought policies.
They also do not tell you which policy is best for you.
People comparing insurance should look beyond premium growth.
The report describes a market where both LIC and private companies are expanding in different ways.
LIC’s individual weighted received premium grew about 15% year over year in September 2026, versus about 7% for private insurers.
Industry individual WRP rose about 9%; private insurers held 73.4% of the segment, down from 74.7% a year earlier.
HDFC Life led listed private insurers in individual WRP growth at 24%, while SBI Life and Bajaj Life declined.
The industry collected ₹48,781 crore in unweighted new business premiums, up 21.3%; LIC collected ₹27,529 crore and private insurers ₹21,252 crore.
From April to September 2026, new business premiums grew 47.2% at LIC and 55.5% among private insurers; the article says consumers should not choose solely by growth figures.
- Who
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and private life insurers, with data reported by Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
- What
- LIC had faster growth in individual weighted received premiums, while private insurers had faster growth in total new business premiums.
- When
- September 2026; the report also compares April to September 2026 with the previous year.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The figures compare premium growth across insurers and segments, helping describe their business momentum; the article cautions against choosing an insurer based on growth alone.
LIC’s individual-policy momentum
Private insurers’ new-business momentum
Individual weighted received premiums
LIC’s individual-policy momentum
LIC recorded about 15% year-over-year growth in September 2026, ahead of private insurers’ average of about 7%.
Private insurers’ new-business momentum
Private insurers still held 73.4% of individual WRP, though their share was lower than a year earlier.
Total new business premiums
LIC’s individual-policy momentum
LIC collected ₹27,529 crore in September, up 19.9%, and its April–September premiums rose 47.2%.
Private insurers’ new-business momentum
Private insurers’ September premiums rose 23.2%; their April–September growth of 55.5% outpaced LIC’s.
Choosing an insurer
LIC’s individual-policy momentum
The figures show LIC’s scale and growth in individual policies, but do not establish that it is the best option for a buyer.
Private insurers’ new-business momentum
Private insurers’ faster total new-business growth indicates expansion, but the article says consumers should not choose solely on these figures.
- Industry individual WRP growth
- About 9% year over year in September 2026.
- LIC individual WRP growth
- About 15% year over year.
- Private insurers' individual WRP growth
- About 7% year over year.
- Private insurers' share of individual WRP
- 73.4% in September 2026, compared with 74.7% a year earlier and 72.3% in August 2026.
- Industry new business premiums
- ₹48,781 crore in September 2026, up 21.3% year over year.
- LIC and private insurers' new business premiums
- LIC: ₹27,529 crore, up 19.9%; private insurers: ₹21,252 crore, up 23.2%.
- April–September new business premium growth
- LIC rose 47.2% to ₹1.44 lakh crore; private insurers rose 55.5% to ₹1.02 lakh crore.