Insurance examinations

Tips on insurance awareness

Training handbook
Prepared by:
A. Gauri Sankar, Chennai 600042
gausan51@gmail.com
24.12.2014

Insurance Examinations Tips on insurance awareness by A. Gauri Sankar gausan51@gmail.com

01.What do you know by the history of insurance?

The idea of insurance was mooted out during 14th century
Marine insurance is the oldest form of insurance throughout the world
Fire insurance and life insurance were subsequently undertaken by insurers
Fire insurance originated in Germany during 16th century
Life insurance started in England during 16th century
The first life that was insured was of Mr. William Gybbons on 18.6.1653
The first registered office of life was in England with the name Hand in Hand society in 1696
Life insurance was started during the year 1818 in Bengal Presidency
The name of the company was Orient Life Assurance Company
Bombay Life Assurance Company was started in 1823
Triton insurance company was commenced for general insurance in 1850
During 1871, Bombay Mutual Life Assurance Society was established
During 1874 Oriental Government Security Life Assurance Co Ltd was established
The first company which transacted general insurance business was the Indian Mercantile
insurance company limited
During 1912, in order to regulate insurance the Indian Life Assurance companies act was
formulated
During the year 1928, the Indian Insurance companies act was enacted
During 1938, there were 176 insurance companies in India
The image of insurance was tainted on account of frauds during 1920 and 1930
Insurance act was passed during 1938
245 Indian and foreign life insurers and provident societies were under one nationalized
corporation during 1956
Life Insurance Corporation was formed by an act of Parliament vide LIC act 1956
The initial capital for LIC was Rs. 5 crore
During 1968, insurance act was amended to regulate investment and also set up of tariff
advisory committee
Non life insurance business/general insurance remained with private sector till 1972
There were 107 companies involved in the business of general operations
General Insurance business was nationalized in India as per General Insurance Business
(Nationalisation) act 1972 with effect from 1.1.1973
107 private insurance companies were amalgamated and grouped into four companies namely
National Insurance Company, New India Assurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company and
United India Insurance Company
The above companies were the subsidiaries of General Insurance Company GIC
Malhotra committee was formed during the year 1993 headed by former Finance Secretary and
RBI governor R N Malhotra
During the year 1999, IRDA act was passed and paved way for privatization of insurance sector
in India
During the year 2002, IRDA act and insurance act have been amended

02.What is the present level of insurance industry in India?

Insurance business in India can be classified into Life Insurance business and General Insurance
Business
LIC of India is taking care of life insurance business
General Insurance Corporation of India namely GIC Limited is taking care of general insurance
business
United India Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company, New India Assurance Company
and National Insurance Company are part and parcel of General Insurance Corporation of India
Insurance sector in India was liberalized in March 2000 by the formation of IRDA
IRDA means Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
As on 2,2.2011, there were 23 life insurance companies and 24 non life insurance companies in
the market.

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03.What are the concepts of Insurance?

Insurance business can be divided in four classes namely: Life Insurance, Fire insurance, Marine
insurance and Miscellaneous insurance
Life insurers transact life insurance business
General insurers transact the rest
No composites are permitted as per law

04.What are the specific principles of insurance?

The specific principles of insurance are uberrima fida(utmost good faith); insurable interest;
indemnity; proximate clause; subrogation

05.What are the benefits of life insurance?

The benefits of life insurance are protection against untimely death, saving for old age,
encourage savings, initiates investment, credit worthiness, social security, tax benefits.

06.What are the objectives of nationalization of insurance industry?

To
To
To
To
To
To

ensure general insurance business to the best advantage to the community

promote competition in the economy
prevent monopoly growth and concentration of wealth
spread the activities over geograp0hical frontiers
innovate new products to suit the requirements of the different sections of the population
meet the social objectives by formulating policies for weaker sections

07.What are the major recommendations of Malhotra committee?

Insurance intermediaries
Surveyors
Product pricing
Rural insurance
Regulation of insurance business
Liberalisation
Investment
Restructuring of general insurance
Detariffing

08.What do you mean by Insurance Institute of India?

Insurance Institute of India was established in 1955

The examinations conducted by Insurance Institute of India are
The Inspectors examination (general insurance)
Certificate of insurance salesmanship (agents)
Licentiate, associate and fellowship
Pre recruitment test to insurance agents

09.Persons have insurance interest in which types of properties?

Persons who have insurance interest in different types of properties are as detailed below:
Immovable properties
Movable properties
Business
Ships

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Commencement of risk
Cause proxima
Payment of premium
Right to contribution
Mitigation of loss

10.What are the different classifications of insurance?

Life insurance
Non life insurance namely fire
miscellaneous insurance business
Retail insurance
Corporate insurance
Coinsurance
Universal insurance
Direct insurance
Reinsurance

insurance

business,

marine

insurance

business,

11.What are the various acts connected with insurance?

Indian contract act 1872

The Insurance company act 1938
General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) act 1972
Life Insurance act 1956
IRDA act 1999
Consumer protection act 1986
Foreign exchange maintenance act 1999
Motor vehicles act 1988
Marine Insurance act 1963
Married womens property act 1874

12.What do you mean by actuary?

Actuary is a technical expert who combines an understanding of the risks involved in insurance
He also understands the mathematical techniques to develop insurance products to manage
these risks
He advises on pricing the insurance products
He calculates the reserves to be held for meeting the financial risks of the insurance products
IRDA has made it compulsory for any life insurance company to appoint an actuary
Without actuary insurance companies cannot carry on their life insurance business

13.What are the essentials of a valid contract?

Offer and acceptance
Intention
Consideration
Capacity of parties
Free consent
Lawful object
Agreement not declared valid
Certain
Legal formalities
14.What are the different kinds of contract?
Voidable contract
Void agreement
Void contract

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Illegal agreement
Express contract
Implied contract
Executed contract
Executor contract
Unilateral contract
Bilateral contract

15.What are the various types of life insurance policies?

Term insurance
Whole life policy
Endowment
Health insurance
Joint life policy
With profit
Without profit
Double accident benefit
Annuity policy
Policies for women
Pension insurance
Postal life insurance
Rural insurance plans
Group life insurance
Insurance policies for children
Money back policy
Unit Linked Policy

16.What do you mean by term insurance?

Term insurance offers pure risk cover without any element of saving for a given term.
No benefits are available to the policyholder till his death
17.What do you mean by whole life insurance?
The premium is payable for the life time of the assured or for a lesser period.
Sum assured is payable only on the death of the assured
18.What do you mean by endowment plans?
This is considered to be the most popular plan of life assurance.
It covers the life of the assured in the event of his early death
It also provides for repayment of a lump sum to the assured if he survives on the date of
maturity
19.What do you mean by money back policy?
It provides life insurance cover
Periodical payments are also paid to the assured
The policyholder need not wait to get the returns till the date of maturity
20.What do you mean by childrens assurance plan?
The life of a child can be covered from the age of 7.
Once the child becomes a major he can continue the policy
21.What do you mean by Unit Linked Insurance Policy?
It is called as ULIP
It provides a combination of risk cover and investment
The dynamics of the capital market have a direct bearing on the performance of the ULIPs
The investment risk is generally borne by the investor

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A wide range of funds are offered to suit ones investment objectives, risk profile and time
horizons
Different funds have different risk profiles
The potential for returns also varies from fund to fund

22.What are the common types of funds available under ULIP?

The common types of funds available under ULIP are equity funds; income, fixed interest and
bond funds; cash funds and balanced funds

Equity funds primarily invested in company stocks with the general aim of capital
appreciation
The risk category in the case of equity funds is found to be medium to high
Income, fixed interest and bond funds invested in corporate bonds, government securities
and other fixed income instruments and the risk category is found to be medium
Cash funds Sometimes known as money market funds; amount is invested in cash, bank
deposits and money market instruments. The risk category is found to be low
Balanced funds Combination of equity investment with fixed interest instruments. The risk
category is found to be medium

23.What are different kinds of non life insurance products?

Personal accident insurance
Workmen compensation insurance
Fire Insurance
Marine insurance
Motor insurance (Vehicle insurance)
Group Insurance
Health insurance
24.What are the different kinds of general insurance products?
Fire insurance
Marine (cargo) insurance
Marine (hull) insurance
Motor insurance
Aviation insurance
Engineering insurance
Miscellaneous insurance
25.What are the different kinds of marine insurance policies?
Hull insurance
Cargo insurance
Freight insurance
Liability insurance
26.What are the various classes of marine insurance policies?
Voyage policies
Time policies
Mixed policies
Valued policies
Unvalued policies
Floating policies
Named policies
Single vessel and float policies
Currency policies
27.What are various classes of fire insurance policies?

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Valued policy
Valuable policy
Specific policy
Floating policy
Average policy
Excess policy
Declaration policy
Adaptable policy
Maximum value with dissent policy
Reinstatement policy
Comprehensive policy
Consequential loss policy
Sprinkler leakage policy

28.Paid up value:
Paid up value = (Number of years premium paid/policy term) x sum assured + (bonus/1000) x
sum assured
29.Surrender value:
Surrender value = (surrender value factor x paid up value)/100
30.What do you mean by group insurance?

It is a plan of insurance which provides life cover to a number of persons under single policy
called as master policy
The premium is found to be cheaper on account of low administration cost
A number of group insurance schemes have been designed for various groups
The groups include employer-employee groups; associations of professionals (such as
doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants etc); members of cooperative banks; welfare funds;
credit societies and weaker sections of the society
Individual lives are not assessed. A person will be covered so long as he remains eligible to
be the member of the group
Double accident benefit is available payment of double the sum assured on death due to
accident without permanent disability benefit by payment of extra premium

31.What are different kinds of reinsurance?

The different types of reinsurance are:
Proportional form of reinsurance
Non proportional form of reinsurance
Proportional form of reinsurance are:
Quota method
Share surplus form
Non proportional form of reinsurance are:
Excess of loss method
Excess of loss ratio method
Pools method of reinsurance
Treaty method of reinsurance
32.What do you mean by DICGC and its objectives?
DICGC means DEPOSIT INSURANCE AND CREDIT GUARANTEE CORPORATION
The objectives of DICGC are:
Provide insurance against the loss or part of bank deposits by participating banks and other
financial institutions
Provide guarantee support to small scale borrowers by participating banks and other financial
institutions

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Provide credit guarantee support to the priority sectors agriculture, retain trade, small
business, professional and self employed persons and education
DICGC provides two types of functions - deposit insurance function and credit guarantee
function
When it comes to deposit insurance function, DICGC provides compensation upto a
maximum amount of Rs. 1.00 lakhs per depositor per bank in the case of insolvency of the
bank

33.What are the important credit guarantee schemes operated by DICGC?

Small loans guarantee scheme 1971
Small loans (financial corporation) guarantee scheme 1971
Service Cooperative Societies guarantee scheme 1971
Small loans (small scale industries) guarantee scheme 1981
Small loans (cooperative banks) guarantee scheme 1984
Credit guarantee schemes for small borrowers
Credit guarantee scheme for small scale industries
34.What are the objectives of insurance legislations?
To fostering a sound, competitive and progressive insurance business
To monitor the activities of the insurance industry
To protect the interests of the policy holders by ensuring the insurers, intermediaries and
surveyors abide the rules and regulations
To promote and preserve high standards of professionalism in the conduct of insurance
business
To provide regulatory and fiscal infrastructure conducive to the development of insurance
industry in the country
To coordinate investment and other activities of the insurers with the objectives of the
national economic policies
To provide the best treatments to policy holders of various insurance policies
To provide the best solutions to the insuring public
35.What do you mean by consumer protection and redressel agencies in India?

The consumer protection redressal agencies were established by the consumer protection
act in India
Consumer Disputes Redressal forum functions under three capacities namely; District
consumer forum, state consumer forum and national consumer forum

36.What do you mean District consumer forum ?

It is set up by state governments in all districts in India.
Each district forum is headed by a district judge with two other members
These forums have jurisdiction to entertain complaints and compensation claim does not
exceed Rs. 5 lakhs
37.What do you mean by unfair trade practices?
Falsely represent that the goods are of a particular standard, quality or grade
Falsely represent that the services are of a particular standard, quality or grade
Falsely represent any rebuilt, second hand, renovated, reconditioned or old goods as new
goods
Represent that the seller or supplier has sponsorship or approval which they do not have
Making a false representation about the usefulness of any good or service
Giving public any warranty or guarantee of the performance efficacy or length of life of
product or any goods that is not based on adequate proper test
38.What do you mean by State consumer forum?

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It shall have the jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of goods an services
and compensation if any claim exceeds Rs. 5 lakhs
It shall have the administrative control over all district forums within its jurisdiction in all
matters

39.What do you mean by National consumer forum?

It shall be headed by a judge of supreme court of India
Consists of four other members
Has the jurisdiction to hear complaints where value of goods and services and compensations
if any claimed exceeds Rs. 2 lakhs and shall hear appeals against the orders of state
commissions.
40.What are the features of motor vehicles act?
Vehicle must be a motor vehicle
Use must be in a public place
Insurance policy should be in force
Statutory contract between insurer and driver
Rights of third parties
Limitations of the third partys rights
41.What are the different kinds of fire insurance policies?
Loss and profit policy
Industrial all risk policy and fire reinstatement
Declaration and floating policy
42.What are the different kinds of Marine (cargo) insurance policies?

Inland transit policy

Import and export marine policy
Special declaration policy
Annual open policy
Special storage policy
Sellers contingency insurance

43.What are the different kinds of Marine (Hull) insurance policies?

Fishing vessels policy
Major fleets policy
Inland vessels policy
Country crafts/motorized boats policies
Builders risk ship policy
Ship breakage risks policies
Major/Sunday hulls
Vessels under erection cover
44.What are various classes of aviation insurance policies?
Aircraft comprehensive insurance
Legal liability for passengers
Legal liability of crews
Loss of licence
Flight coupon (personal accident insurance)
Third party liability for crews
45.What are various kinds of engineering insurance policies?
Machine cum erection and storage policy
Machinery breakdown
Contractors all risks

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Contracts plant and machinery

Advanced loss of profit
Electronic equipment insurance

46.What are the different kinds of miscellaneous insurance policies?

Agricultural pumpsets
Householders comprehensive insurance
Shopkeepers comprehensive insurance
Baggage insurance NTV
Coffee plantation insurance
Neon signs insurance
Personal accident individual and group insurance
School childrens personal accident insurance
Fidelity guarantee individual
Employees liability insurance
Medical practitioners professional indemnity insurance,
Burglary insurance (business premise)
Cash insurance
Product liability insurance
Bankers blanket insurance
Personal accident social scheme and hut insurance
Medical claim individual and group insurance
Overseas medical claim
Boat and shipbuilders insurance
Bhavishya arogya
47.What are the requisite qualifications for a person to become one insurance sales person?
Personal selling of insurance is a selling process and assisting a prospective buyer to buy a
product
The requisite qualifications for a person to become a sales person are:
Should have the ability to persuade people to buy products of their choice
Should have good communication ability
Should possess knowledge about customers and their wants and desire and the products
offered to satisfy them or not
Should know the socio psychological factors of customers
Influence the buying behavior
Should understand various customers, their attitudes and behaviours
Should have ability to recognize and handle them for successful salesmanship
Should follow AIDAS formula
AIDAS means A for attention; I for interest; D for desire; A for action and S for satisfaction
48.What are the qualities of one sales person?
Physical qualities
Social qualities
Mental qualities
49.What are the skills of a salesman?
Interpersonal skills
Communication skills
Organization skills
50.What are the characteristics and traits of salesman ?
Trustworthiness
Enthusiasm
Empathy
Persistence

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Patience
Desire for self improvement
Motivation

51.What do you mean by an insurance agent?

Insurance business both life insurance and non life insurance is procured through individuals
called as agents
Individuals who want to be insurance agents should
Obtain a license from the controller of insurance of the IRDA in India
After obtaining the license, he should have to enroll with the insurance company to be
authorized to work as an insurance agent
A well trained insurance agent can explain the details of various policies to the clients in
detail
52.What do you mean by corporate agency system?
Corporate agency system was introduced in India during 2003
A bank can act as an agent on behalf of an insurance company
53.Who can become one corporate agent?
A firm
A company under the companies act
A banking company
A corresponding new bank
A regional rural bank
A cooperative society including a cooperative bank
A panchayat
A local authority
A non government organization
A micro lending finance organization
A non banking finance company
Any other organization that may be approved by IRDA
54.What do you mean by insurance broker?
Broker is person who helps in the development of business between one person and another
person
There are three categories of insurance brokers namely direct broker, composite broker
and reinsurance broker
55.What are the objectives of Life Insurance Corporation of India ?
Provide life insurance cover to insuring people in India and outside India
To create insurance awareness in rural areas in India
To achieve growth in new insurance business
56.What are the subsidiaries of Life Insurance Corporation of India?
The LIC housing finance Limited
LIC Mutual fund
LIC (Nepal) Limited
LIC(international )EC Bahrain
57.What do you know by the various public sector Non Life Insurance corporations
functioning in our country?
General Insurance Corporation of India
National Insurance Company Limited
The New India assurance company limited
The oriental insurance company Limited
United India insurance company
Employees state insurance corporation

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Deposit Insurance and credit guarantee corporation

Export credit guarantee corporation of India
Agricultural Insurance Company of India Limited

58.What are the different kinds of export credit insurance policies?

Standard policy
Small exporters policy
Specific policies
Guarantee to banks
Special schemes
59.What are the different kinds of guarantees provided by ECGC ?
Packing credit guarantee
Export production finance guarantee
Post shipment export credit guarantee
Export finance guarantee
Export performance guarantee
Export finance (overseas lending) guarantee
60.What are the different types of insurance risks?
Pure risk
Speculative risk
Static risk
Dynamic risk
Subjective risk
Objective risk
Financial risk
Business risk
Personal risk
Property risk
Liability risk
Underwriting risk
Credit risk
Market risk
Liquidity risk
61.How

pure risks and speculative risks can be handled?

Risk assessment
Risk sharing
Risk exploitation
Risk monitoring

62.What are the various kinds of risk management strategies?

Risk avoidance
Risk retention
Risk transfer
Risk reduction
Risk hedging
Risk combination
Risk sharing
63.What to you mean by the risk management processes?
Risk identification and exposures to loss
Risk evaluation

12

Risk identification and exposures to loss consists of the following:

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Loss exposure check list method

Financial statement analysis
Flow charts
Contract analysis
Physical verification and inspection
Statistical analysis of past loss

64.What are the modern risk financing techniques?

Alternative risk transfer
Catastrophic bonds
65.What do you mean by alternative risk transfer?
Loss sensitive contracts
Finite insurance contract
Captive insurers
Multi line insurance policies
Multi trigger insurance policies
Contingent financial arrangements
Structured debt instruments
66.What are the different types of CAT bonds as at present?
Surety bond
Judicial BONDS
Public official bonds
Fidelity bonds
Retirement planning
Annuity
67.What do you mean by insurance?
Insurance is the contract between the insurer and policyholder
68.What are the risks faced by any human being?
Early death
Living too long
Disabilities
Sickness
Unemployment
69.What are the benefits of life insurance?
Life insurance is not only the best possible way for family protection
Insurance is the only way to safeguard against the unpredictable risks of the future. It is
unavoidable
The terms of life are hard. The terms of insurance are easy
The value of human life is far greater than the value of property. Only insurance can
preserve it
Life insurance is not surpassed by any other savings or investment instrument, in terms of
security, marketability, stability of value or liquidity
Insurance, including life insurance, is essential for the conservation of many businesses, just
as it is in the preservation of homes
Life insurance enhances the existing standards of living
Life insurance helps people live financially solvent lives
Life insurance perpetuates life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Life insurance is a way of life
70.In what ways the risks can be managed?
Prevention of avoidance

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Retention
Transfer

71. Who can be insured?

Individual adults
Children (minors)
Two or more persons jointly under one policy
72. What can be the sum assured?
Some plans stipulate a minimum sum assured.
There can be maximum limits also for sum assured as well as certain benefits, like accident
benefits
73. In what contingency would the sum assured be payable?
In the case of death
On survival
74. When would the sum assured be payable?
On the contingency of happening
Some other dates
75. How would the sum assured be payable?
Could be in one lump sum
In instalments
76. What would be the term (duration) of the policy?
This determines the period during which the specified event should occur for the sum assured
to be payable.
Some plans provide for benefits even beyond the term
77. When would the premium be payable?
Variations are in the frequency of payment (monthly, quarterly, half yearly or yearly) as well as
the period during which it is payable.
Some plans provide for premiums to be paid for a period less than the return
78. Does the sum assured increases?
This can happen because of participation in surpluses and bonus additions
Or because of guaranteed increases in sum assured
79. Does the sum assured reduce?
This can also happen, if the plan is to meet reducing liabilities under a mortgage
80. Are there additional benefits?
These are also called supplementary benefits and may be provided by way of riders, in addition
to the basic covers
81. What is a without profit policy and with profit policy?
Without profit or non participating policies are not entitled to bonuses, which are declared after
actuarial valuations.
With profit or participating policies pay a slightly higher premium for the right to participate in
the progress of the insurer.
With profit policies are popular because the bonuses are expected to be more than the extra
premium paid.
With profit policies, where the premium is payable for a limited period, will continue to
participate even after the premiums have ceased

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82. What do you mean by joint life policies?

Two or more lives can be covered under one policy and such policies usually cover married
couples or parents.
The sum assured is paid on the death of any of the insured persons during the term or at the
end of the term.
Some plans also provide payment of sum assured on the death of one life and the policy is
continued to cover the second life till maturity, without payment of further premium
83. What are the requirements in the case of joint life insurances?
A joint life declaration is necessary to create a joint interest in the policy
In the case of partnership insurance, the partnership deed will be examined to ascertain the
nature of financial interest of each partner
Each life will be underwritten separately
Bonuses will accrue on the single basic sum assured only
84.What do you mean by a proposal?
A proposal is an application for an insurance cover.
When a proposal is received, the insurer will not grant the cover automatically.
The insurer will make a decision as to the admissibility of the proposer to the pool of
policyholders.
85. What do you mean by hazard?
The factors affecting the risk on the life of an individual are called as hazards and they can be
physical; occupational and moral.
86.What do you mean by physical hazards?
Physical hazards are age, sex, build, physical condition, physical impairments, personal
history, family history, increasing extra risk, occupational hazards and moral hazard
87.Explain the hazard related to age:
As age increases, the probability of death increases and these probabilities are built into the
mortality tables and thereby into the premium rates
The underwriter looks into the factor of aged mainly because of its relationship with other
factors.
Certain risks increase with age.
Certain other risks decrease with age.
For example, being overweight is a positive or favorable factor among children, while it may not
be so among older persons.
Young persons who are underweight need closer scrutiny than elders who are underweight
88.Explain the hazard related to sex:
Mortality of female lives is seen to be higher than male lives at younger ages, among the
poorer and uneducated sections.
One reason could be the lack of adequate care in maternity cases.
Underwriting considerations are also different in female cases.
89.What do you mean by the hazard related to physical condition?
The medical examination of reflexes, blood pressure, pulse rates, urine etc. provides data with
regard to the condition of important systems of the body
90.What do you mean by physical impairments?
Blindness, deafness etc and other conditions which are not illnesses; however, degenerative e
hazards affecting the probabilities of death
Personal history This is important as pointers to the health as well as the life style of the
person
91. What do you mean by family history?

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This is looked to see whether there are factors that make the person susceptible to hereditary
illnesses.
Family history of early deaths of cardiac illnesses or diabetes, could be significant
Increasing extra risk is related to certain impairments or ailments like blood pressure or
diabetes or cancer, which are expected to get worse as days go by.
They do not have to, as modern medicine has ways of containing them. Similarly, some
impairments are expected to wear off as days go by.
These are called decreasing extra risks

92.What are occupational hazards arising out of ones job?

The nature of the job or the place in which the job is done have effects on the worker.
Contact with and installation of fumes, excessive temperatures, etc affect health and life
spans.
Those on flight duties on aircrafts run a greater risk of death by accident.
Those working in chemical factories are likely victims of various respiratory diseases.
Those working with high voltage electricity are susceptible to electrocution and burns.
The safety factor is important in heavy engineering factories, working at heights, working
with high speed machines, adventure sports and so on
93.What do you mean by moral hazard?
Moral hazard refers to the intentions of the proposer.
If the proposal is being made because there is a genuine need for insurance, there is no moral
hazard.
If the intention is to seek undue advantage through the use of insurance policy, there is some
moral hazard.
94.What do you mean by the policy document?
It is the document given to the insured once the contract is completed between the insured and
insurer
95.What are the contents of the policy document?
The policy document contains the following:number of the policy, date of the policy, age
admitted, name of the policy holder, the address of the policyholder, premium amount, mode
of premium amount, plan number, term in years, date of commencement of the policy, date of
maturity, name of the nominee, relationship with the policyholder
96.Which documents are accepted as proof of age?
Certified extract from the municipal records
Certified of baptism
Certified extract from family bible if it contains of date of birth
Certified extract from school or college records
Certified extract from service register or employer
Passport
Identify cards issued by defence department in case of defence personnel
Marriage certificates issued by a Romans Catholic Church
97. What do you mean by days of grace?
The policy stipulates that the premium has to be paid in the insurers office on the dates
specified therein.
These dates are called as due dates
98. How premium can be paid?
It can be paid by cash, cheque, demand draft, postal order, money order, bankers cheque.
Nowadays electronic means of payment as well credit cards and debit cards are also acceptable.
99. What is a grace period?
Premiums are to be paid on the due dates mentioned in the policy and insurers, however, allow
a grace period for payment of premium.
Payment within the grace period is considered to be payment on time.

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The grace period would be one month, but not less than 30 days for yearly, half yearly or
quarterly modes of premium and 15 days for monthly modes of premium.
Some insurers allow 30 days grace period for monthly modes also

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

What is salary savings scheme?

In the case of salary savings scheme, the premium amount is deducted by the employer from
out of the salaries payable to the employee.
When there is delay in remitting the same to the office of the insurer, the delay is usually
condoned.
If the delays happen frequently, the salary savings scheme arrangement may be terminated
What is a default?
If the premium is not paid within days of grace, it is considered to be in default and the policy is
said to lapse.
If the insured happens to die within the days of grace and the premium has not been paid, the
claim will be admitted in full and the premium for the current year will be deducted from the
claim amount
What do you mean by lapse?
A payment within the days of grace is deemed to be a payment on the due date and if the
premium is not received by the insurer, within the days of grace, there is a default on the part
of the policyholder.
The insurer is entitled to say that the policy comes to an end. Such termination is called a
lapse.
No claims arise on the policy after a lapse and all premiums are forfeited
What do you mean by paid up value?
Under this option, the sum assured is reduced to a sum which bears the same ratio to the full
sum assured as the number of premiums actually paid bears to the total number originally
stipulated in the policy.
Paid up value = (number of premiums paid x sum assured)/number of premiums payable
What do you mean by surrender value?
Surrender value or cash value is made available normally when the policy has remained in force
for at least three years.
This is so, because in the first year, most of the premium goes out in expenses and there is
little left for accumulation.

105.

106.

17

What do you mean by assignment?

Assignment transfers the rights, title and interest of the assignor to the assignee.
Legal provisions for assignment of insurance policies are available in almost all the countr
The assignment can be done by an endorsement on the policy or by a separate deed.
When the assignment is made by an endorsement on the polity itself, no stamp duty is
necessary.
Separate deeds have to be stamped
It must be signed by the transferor or his duly authorized agent
The signature must be attested by a witness
The assignment is effective as soon as it is executed
It must be sent to the insurer along with a notice
The assignment is effective against the insurer only when the notice is delivered to the
insurer
Where there is more than one instrument of assignment, the priority of claims shall be
determined by the order in which the notices are delivered to the insurer

What is meant by revival of the policy?

When a policy lapses, it benefits neither the insurer nor the insured.

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The insured loses the insurance risk cover for the full amount.
It signifies a reversal of the decision to arrange for the insurance cover and therefore, ,
exposes the policy holder adverse circumstances.

107.

108.

What do you mean by nomination?

It is a simple way to ensure easy payment of the policy moneys in the case of a death claim.
As per section 39 of the Insurance Act, 1938, the holder of a policy on his own life, may
nominate the person or persons to whom the money secured by the policy shall be paid in the
event of his death.
This can be made at the time of proposal or at any time during the currency of the policy.
A person having a policy on the life of another cannot effect a nomination.

109.

110.

18

What are the requirements for revival of policies?

Arrears of outstanding premiums with interest to be paid
Proof of continued good health to be submitted
A fee for reinstatement or revival, in the case of some insurers has to be paid

What are the the features of nomination?

Nomination can be done before the issue of the policy by mentioning in the proposal form or
by a letter giving details
It can also be issued after issue of the policy by an endorsement on the policy
Cannot be done by a separate deed
The holder of a policy on his own life : i.e. the life assured, alone can make nomination
Policyholder retains full control and can deal with the policy without the consent of the
nominee
Need not be supported by a consideration
May be witnessed
Notice is required to be given to the insurer
Nominee has no right to sue under the policy
It can be altered by the life assured during the currency of the policy by cancellation of
nomination or by an assignment
Where nominee is a minor, appointment of an appointee by the life assured only is required
Appointee can be appointed in the wording of the nomination
No vested interest is created in favor of nominee
Nominees right is only to collect policy moneys on the death of the assured, when paid by
the insurer
If the nominee dies after the life assured and before settlement of the claim, the policy
moneys would be payable to the heirs of the life assured
Creditors of the life assured can attach the policy moneys
What are the features of assignment?
Can be done only after issue of the policy by endorsement on policy
Can be done also by a separate deed on stamped paper
The absolute owner of the policy may be either proposer or the life assured or the absolute
assignee or conditional assignee to the extent of his interest, can make assignment
Policyholder loses control over the policy and assignee is the owner of the policy and can
deal with it
Must be supported by a consideration
Must be witnessed
Notice is required to determine the priority between other assignees
Assignee has right to sue under the policy
It cannot be cancelled by the assignor
When assignee is a minor, guardian is to be appointed
Guardian cannot be appointed in the wording of the assignment
Assignee acquires interest
The assignee is entitled to deal with the policy and to receive the policy moneys

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111.

112.

113.

114.

115.

116.

117.

19

If the assignee dies at any time, the policy moneys would be payable to the heirs of the
assignee
Creditors of the life assured cannot attach the policy moneys unless the assignment is shown
to have been made to defraud the creditors
What do you mean by surrender of a policy?
A surrender is a voluntary termination of the contract by the policyholder
A policyholder can surrender the life insurance policy before it becomes a claim
Surrenders are not allowed unless the policy has run for a minimum period of time, which
may vary from three to seven years.
The amount payable by the insurer to the policyholder on surrender is called the surrender
value or cash value.
Surrender values are published and made known to policyholders by some insurers either as
part of the prospectus or by mention in the policy conditions
What is a surrender value?
It is usually a percentage of the premiums paid or a percentage of the paid up value.
The percentage increases as the duration of the policy increases
The surrender value on a policy will be more after 15 years compared to the surrender value
after ten years.
The percentage decreases as the original term of the policy increases
Between two policies of original term 20 and 30 years, both of which have been in force for
the same fifteen years, the surrender value on the former will be more than on the latter.
What do you mean by foreclosure?
Foreclosure means closure or writing off the policy before its actual maturity
When a loan is granted under a policy, the life assured has a choice to pay the interest or
allow it to accumulate to be adjusted from the policy moneys payable when the claim arises.
This is possible only if the premiums are paid regularly and the policy remains in force.
In case of paid up policies, the surrender value will not grow as fast as the accumulated
interest
The principal loan and accumulated interest could become more than the surrender value at
some time

What do you mean by GIPSA?

It is an association called as General Insurers (Public Sector) Association of India
It has its headquarters at New Delhi
The chairperson is Shri G. Srinivasan and Shri G. Srinivasan is the chairman and managing
director of New India Assurance Company
The association has been formed by the four public sector non life insurance companies namely
New India Assurance Company; Oriental Insurance Company, National Insurance Company
and United India Insurance Company
Whether a policyholder can have both paper and electronic policies?
Policyholders have the option to choose the form in which they want their policies issued
paper or electronic
A policy can be bought or maintained in one form only
The policyholder cannot have the policy in both forms
However, when a policyholder has more number of policies, he has the option keep some
policies in paper form and the remaining policies in electronic form
What do you mean by Annuity?
It is an agreement by an insurer to make periodic payments
The payments continue during the survival of the annuitant(s) or for a specified period
What do you mean by claim?

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It is a demand made by the insured or the insureds beneficiary for payment of the benefits as
provided by the policy

118.

What is life insurance?

Life insurance is called as life assurance
It is a contract between an insured and an insurer
The insurer is the insurance policyholder
The insurer is the company who had issued the insurance policy (e.g. Life Insurance
Corporation of India)
The insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money in exchange for a
premium upon the death of the insured person
Depending upon the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also
trigger payment
The policy holder typically pays a premium either regularly or as a lump sum
Life policies are legal contracts and the terms of the contract describe the limitations of the
insured events

119.
What is meant by general insurance?
General insurance is basically an insurance policy that protects the policyholder against the
losses and damages other than those covered by life insurance
The coverage period for most general insurance policies and plans is usually one year, whereby
premiums are normally paid on one time basis
120.

What are some private sector insurance players?

Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
ICICI Lombard general insurance
IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance
Reliance General Insurance
Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance
TATA AIG General Insurance
Cholamandam General Insurance
HDFC Ergo

121.

What do you mean by coverage?

It is the range of protection that the policyholder is provided under an insurance policy

122.

What do you mean by death benefit?

The limit of insurance or the amount of benefit that will be paid in the event of the death of a
covered person

123.

What do you mean by deductible?

The amount the policyholder has to pay out of pocket expenses before the insurance company
covers the remaining costs

124.

What do you mean by exclusive?

The items which are not covered under the policy; however, are payable by the company as an
incentive

125.

What do you mean by indemnity?

It is the restoration to the victim of a loss by payment, repair or replacement

126.

What do you mean by insurable interest?

The interest in property such that loss or destruction of the property could cause a financial loss

127.

What is called as Insurance settlement?

It is a payment on an insurance claim

20

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When a valid insurance claim is made, the insurer makes a payment to the policyholder and
this payment is called as the insurance settlement

128.

What do you mean by lapse?

It is the termination of a policy due to failure to pay the required renewal premium

129.

What do you mean by paid up value?

When the policyholder stops paying the premiums; however, do not withdraw the money from
the policy the policy is required as paid up and the value that can be paid up under such policy
is called as paid up value

130.

What do you mean by- peril?

It is the cause of the possible loss or damage

131.

What do you mean by reinsurance?

It is an insurance that an insurance company buys for its own protection
The risk of loss is spread so a disproportionately large loss under a single policy does not fall on
one company
Reinsurance enables an insurance company to expand its capacity
It stabilizes its underwriting results
It finances its expanding volume
It secures catastrophic protection against stock losses
It also withdraws from a line of business or a geographical area within a specified time period

132.

What is meant by renewal?

It is the automatic re-establishment of in-force status effected by the payment of another
premium

133.

What do you mean by rider?

It is an optional feature that can be added to a policy
The policyholder has to pay an additional premium to avail this benefit

134.

What do you mean by subrogation?

It is the right for an insurer to pursue a third party that caused an insurance loss to the insured
This is done as a means of recovering the amount of the claim paid to the insured for the loss

135.
What do you mean by survival benefit?
It is the amount payable at the end of specified durations
These amounts are fixed and predetermined
136.

What do you mean by underwriting?

It is the process of selecting the risks for an insurance and determining as to what amount and
on what terms the insurance company has to accept the terms
Unlike a term insurance cover, in case the policyholder is alive, the amount will be paid to the
policyholder on the maturity of the plan

137.

What are the primary functions of an insurance?

The functions of an insurance can be divided into three categories namely primary functions,
secondary functions and other functions

138.

Which are the primary functions of an insurance?

Provides protection
Provides certainty
Distributes the risk

139.

21

What are the secondary functions of an insurance?

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140.

141.

142.

Protection of loss
Provides capital
Increases efficiency
Provides adequate financial cover
Helps in judging the viability of major projects
It
It
It
It
It

What are the miscellaneous functions of an insurance?

encourages savings
promotes foreign trade
checks inflation
provides social security
provides credit facilities during emergent situations

What are the specific principles of insurance?

Principle of cooperation
Principle of probability
Principle of insurable interest
Principle of utmost good faith
Principle of indemnity
Principle of subrogation
Principle of contribution
Principle of causa proxima
Principle of warranty
Principle of mitigation of loss
Principle of assignment
Glossary of insurance terms:

Abandonment The insured relinquishes the ownership of the property, covered by the insurance
policy to the insurance company
Additional cover- An insurance policy extended to cover additional risk perils such as strikes,
riots and civil commotion etc., on payment of extra premium
Advolerem duty Duty evaluated on percentage of cargo value
Affreightment- A contract for the carriage of goods by sea for payment expressed in bill of lading
Alien insurance An insurance company domiciled in another country
Annuitant The person who receives the annuity during whose life annuity is payable
Annuity consideration An annuitant making one of the regular periodic payments for an
annuity
Arbitration A form of alternative dispute resolution where an unbiased person or panel gives an
opinion about quantum of loss
Arson The willful and malicious burning of the property often with criminal intent
Assessor The person who estimates the value of goods for the purpose of apportioning the sum
payable by the underwriters to settle the claims. He is also called as the surveyor
Assignment An individuals personal interest in an insurance policy transferred legally to
another person

22

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Association captive It is a type of captive insurer owned by the members of a sponsoring

organization or group such as a trade association
Assurance Cover for an event that happens some time e.g. death
Award The decision in arbitration
Barratry It is the wrongful act committed willfully by the master and/crew against the shipowner
Beaching Voluntary standing of a vessel
Bonus The amount added or allocated to the sum assured under a par life assurance policy
Burglary It is a theft committed by breaking into or out of the premises and the evidence of
breaking is essential in order to claim insurance benefits
Blanket contract A contract of health insurance affording benefits, such as accidental death and
dismemberment for all of a class of persons not individual identified and it is used for such groups
as athletic teams, campers, travel policy for employees etc
Capital sum assured It is the sum insured for which cover is required under a personal accident
policy
Cession Amount of the insurance ceded to a reinsurer by risk underwriting company in a
reinsurance operation
Collective policy A policy arranged by several insurance companies to cover large risks as no
single insurer would like to run the risk
Contribution Where several insurers cover the same property against the same risks and they
share the loss
Cover note It is the document that is issued provisionally pending issuance of insurance policy
Cross purchase plan An agreement that provides that upon a business owners death, surviving
owners will purchase the deceaseds interest, often with funds from life insurance
Deferred annuity An annuity plan in which the income benefits begin at some specified future
date
Disability income insurance A health insurance plan providing periodic payments to replace
income when the insured person is unable to work as a result of illness, injury and disease
Dismemberment insurance A form of health insurance that provides payment in case of loss
by bodily injury of one or more body members (such as hands or feet) or the sight of one or both
eyes
Earned premium The part of the total insurance policy premium which applies to the portion of
the policy period which has already expired
Effective date The date on which the insurance under a policy begins
Ex-gratia payment The payment by an insurer made(out of grace) without any legal obligation
to do so

23

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Excess The fixed amount of loss borne by the policyholder. When Rs. 1000/- is considered as
excess, the first Rs. 1000 of claim has to be borne by the insured
Exclusions The hazards or perils not covered by a policy of insurance and the loss arising out of
these exclusions is not paid by the insurers
Face amount The amount of insurance provided by an insurance policy and it is also called as
sum assured
Facultative reinsurance A type of reinsurance in which the reinsurer can accept or reject any
risk presented by an insurance company seeking reinsurance
First party claim A demand made by a policyholder reorting an insured event directly to his
company
Fixed annuity Annuity which guarantees a fixed amount for the periodic payments
Flat schedule A type of schedule in group insurance under which everyone is insured for the
same benefits regardless of salary, position or other circumstances
Guaranteed term The insurance company cannot terminate the policy during the period of
coverage under a life insurance policy
Immediate annuity An annuity wherein payment begins immediately
Inchmaree clause A clause included in marine insurance policy by which perils other than the
perils of the sea are covered
Jettison It means throwing off some of the cargo from the ship to save the ship from sinking
Jewellers block insurance Broad policies insuring the jewelers against all losses to their stock
in trade
Juvenile insurance Life insurance policies written on the lives of children within specified age
limits
Key person insurance Insurance designed to protect a business firm against the loss of income
resulting from the death or disability of a key employee
Knock for knock agreement Mutual agreement between insurance companies for simplifying
and reducing administrative costs of settling motor insurance claims
Lapsed policy A policy terminated because of non payment of premium
Level premium A policy whereunder amount of premium remains unchanged during the entire
term of the policy
Limited payment policy Life assured pays the premium for a shorter duration than the term of
the policy i.e. the premiums are limited
Loss adjuster A professional expert engaged by an insurer to establish the cause and amount of
a loss or damage
Limits of liability A sum fixed to be the maximum amount of the liability that an insurer may
pay under a policy

24

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Marine perils The risks covered by a marine insurance policy

Material fact The information having objective reality that influences an insurer in granting or
not granting insurance coverage
Money insurance the cover for loss of money from premises, home or in transit to/from the
bank
Moral hazard A condition or characteristic by which an insured intends to profit from an insured
loss
Mortality table A statistical table that indicates the probability of death and survival at each age
Net premium The portion of the premium rate which is designed to cover the benefits of the
policy excluding the expenses, contingencies and profit
No claim bonus The reduction allowed in a renewal premium if no claim was made during the
period of insurance
Open cover It is a mechanism by which all the shipments are covered automatically
Optional renewal contract A contract of insurance in which the insurer reserves the right to
terminate that coverage at any anniversary or in some cases at any premium due date but does
not have the right to terminate coverage between such dates
Package policy It is a combination of two or more individual policies or coverages into a single
policy. A householders policy for example is a package combining property, liability and theft
coverages for the individual homeowner
Partial loss Where the subject matter insured or goods are partly destroyed, there is partial
loss. Partial loss may be particular average, general average or salvage charge
Particular average In ocean marine insurance, a loss (partial or total) which falls on one or
more property or interest being shipped as opposed to a general average
Plate glass insurance A kind of insurance which provides for losses caused by breakage of
glass
Professional indemnity It is a cover granted to professionals covering their legal liability for
any claims arising out of professional misconduct
Public liability insurance A kind of insurance that offers protection to the insured against the
legal liability for accidental death of or bodily injury to third parties or damage to their property
arising from activities defined in the policy
Quota share reinsurance It is an automatic reinsurance whereby the ceding company is bound
to cede a fixed percentage of every risk written by it irrespective of the size or quality of the risk
Re-entry option An option in a renewable term life policy under which the policyholder is
guaranteed at the end of the term to be able to renew his or her coverage without evidence of
insurability at a premium rate specified in the policy
Reciprocal insurance It is an insurance done by insurance company at a reciprocal exchange.
That is to say the business is given to the reinsurer by insurance company and some business is
placed by reinsurer with main insurer on a reciprocal basis

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Renewal term insurance A term policy that can be renewed for another period without
evidence of insurability
Running down clause The clause in an ocean marine hull policy which covers damage done to
another ship by collision and other property damage caused by collision
Salvage Recovery made by an insurance company by the sale of property which has been taken
over from the insured as part of loss settlement and it can be the remains of damaged vehicle or
any other property
Schedule rating Adjusting the premium on the basis of physical conditions which affect the
probability of loss
Self insurance Protecting against losses by settling aside own money instead of using
conventional insurance
Sickness insurance A form of health insurance providing benefits for loss resulting from illness
or disease
Single premium Payment of the entire premium in one instalment at the time of purchasing the
policy
Sprinkler leakage insurance A kind of insurance cover to provide for the damage caused by
accidental flow of water from a sprinkler
Standard risk Person who, according to a companys underwriting standards, is entitled to
insurance protection without extra rating or special restrictions
Substandard risk Person who is considered as under average or impaired insurance risk
because of physical condition, family or personal history of disease, occupation
Sue and labour clause It is a marine insurance clause that requires the policyholder in the
event of loss to take all necessary means to save the property from further loss and recover from
others who caused the loss. The insurer agrees to pay the costs, even if they exceed the policy
limits of liability
Suicide clause A clause included in the life insurance policy which provides for non payment of
sum assured in case of assured commits suicide
Temporary total disablement Disablement suffered following an accident for a specified period
of time
Third party Any person other than the two parties signing an insurance contract
Tort A civil wrong other than a breach of contract for which a court of law will afford legal relief
e.g. harming another by an act of negligence while driving an auto
Total disability As illness or injury that prevents an insured continuously performing every duty
pertaining to his occupation or from engaging in any other type of work for remuneration
Total loss Loss of all the insured property under a given policy, a loss involving the maximum
amount for which policy is liable
Travel accident policy A limited contract covering only accident while an insured person is
travelling

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Treaty An agreement between a reinsurer and a ceding insurer setting forth details of the
reinsurance agreement
Uberrima fidei Utmost good faith; a duty to disclose all material facts
Uninsurable risk That which is not acceptable for insurance due to excessive risk
Valued policy A policy under which an agreed sum is paid to the insured in the event of total
loss without deductions for wear and tear
Variable annuity An annuity where the investment results of a life insurance companys
separate account for the variation in the benefits
Voluntary excess A proposer for insurance agrees to bear a percentage of fixed amount for any
loss generally to reduce the premium such as Es. 2000 excess for car insurance
Warehouse to warehouse clause A clause included in the marine insurance policy which
covers the risks from the originating warehouse to the terminating warehouse
Warranty A statement by the insured on the literal truth of which the insurance contract
depends
Waiver of premium One of the provisions under an insurance policy where, during a period of
continuous total disability lasting for specified period of time, the insured is relieved of premium
payments falling due during that time

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Wish you all the best

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