The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the capital infusion for an overall value of ₹ 12,450 crore; (including ₹ 2,500 crore infused in FY 2019-20) in the three Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs) namely Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OlCL), National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) and United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL) but of which ₹ 3,475 crore will be released immediately; while the balance Rs,6475 crore will be infused later.   Cabinet also approved increase in authorised share capital of NICL to ₹ 7,500crore and that of UIICL and OlCL to ₹ 5,000 crore respectively to give effect to the capital infusion. Further, the process of merger has been ceased so far in view of the current scenario and instead, the focus shall be on their profitable growth.

The capital infusion of ₹ 3,475 Crore will be allocated to three PSGICs viz. OlCL, NICL and UIICL as the first tranche in the current financial year and the. balance amount will be released in one or more tranches. To give effect to the infusion, the authorised capital of NICL will be increased to ₹ 7,500 Crore and that of UIICL and OlCL to ₹ 5,000 Crore respectively.

Impact

The capital infusion will enable the three PSGICs to improve their financial and solvency position, meet the insurance needs of the economy, absorb changes and enhance the capacity to raise resources and improved risk management.

Financial implications:

In the current financial year, the immediate financial implication would be ₹ 3,475 crore as a result of capital infusion in three PSGICs namelyOlCL, NICL and UIICL as the first tranche which will be followed by ₹ 6,475 Crore.

Way forward:

To ensure optimum utilization of the capital being provided, the Government has issued guidelines in the form of KPIs aimed at bringing business efficiency and profitable growth. In the meanwhile, given the current scenario, the process of merger has been ceased so far and/instead focus shall be on their solvency and profitable growth, post capital infusion.

Capital infusion for three public sector general insurers to strengthen solvency and support profitable growth under KPI oversight. Cabinet approved a government capital infusion into three Public Sector General Insurance Companies with an immediate first tranche to be released and the balance to follow in one or more tranches; authorised share capital of the companies will be increased to give effect to the infusion. The merger process has been put on hold and the infusion is accompanied by government-issued KPIs to ensure utilisation aimed at profitable growth, improved solvency, greater resource-raising capacity and enhanced risk management.