State-owned general insurers achieve turnaround, post combined profit of ₹1,066 crore in Q3

Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs) have achieved a financial turnaround in the December quarter, posting a combined profit of ₹1,066 crore on the back of various reforms by the finance ministry.

Public sector general insurance companies (PSGICs), that historically reported losses, witnessed a major turnaround with all of them becoming profitable again, the finance ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

While Oriental Insurance Company Ltd (OICL) and National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) started posting quarterly profits from Q4 of 2023-24 and Q2 of 2024-25, respectively, United India Insurance Company Ltd (UIICL) posted profit in Q3 of 2024-25 after a gap of seven years, it said.

Notably, New India Assurance Company Ltd (NIACL) has consistently maintained its position as a market leader and has been making profits regularly, it said.

New India Assurance Company recorded a nearly 51% drop in net profit to ₹353 crore for the third quarter of the current financial year.

The government has been committed to creating strong and competitive PSGICs and introduced reforms, including regular key performance indicators-based monitoring, it said.

The Centre had also infused a total capital of ₹17,450 crore in these PSGICs from 2019-20 to 2021-22 with the aim of allowing these companies to undertake structural reforms, enhance operational efficiencies, and return to profitability, it said.

"With improved risk-management practices, loss-control initiatives, adoption of technology, development of new products, better customer services and diversification of portfolio, the PSGICs have posted a magnificent turnaround from combined losses of over ₹10,000 crore in 2022-23, to all individual PSGICs becoming profitable by Q3 of the current financial year and posting a combined profit of ₹1,066 crore in Q3 of 2024-25," it said.

The public sector insurance companies remain committed to maintaining this positive trajectory, it said.

The ongoing strategic measures and new initiatives continue to be rolled out to further strengthen the financial stability of the PSGICs and improve customer services, it said.

PSGICs are also committed to offering high-quality insurance products and services, ensuring long-term sustainability and enhancing customer experience, while achieving growth, it said, adding that the PSGICs are also committed to the broader objective of achieving 'Insurance for All' by 2047.