Indian IT distributor Redington has sharply increased air freight deliveries to the Middle East after conflict disrupted sea routes and closed the Strait of Hormuz, squeezing capacity and driving up rates. The company says air has replaced much of its former sea share since late February, with higher fuel costs contributing. Redington also redistributed inventory, rerouted logistics via Saudi Arabia and Oman, and arranged alternative insurance after insurers withdrew war-risk coverage. Despite demand dips in UAE and Saudi Arabia, it expects 10% to 15% revenue growth in FY2027.
A Bombay High Court ruling has protected policyholders whose health insurance claims were rejected only because documents were submitted after a 90-day deadline. In the case of C.P. Ravindranath Menon and his wife, United India Insurance refused reimbursement of ₹1.13 lakh for domiciliary and OPD-related expenses during the policy period. The court held that clauses extinguishing rights due to procedural delay are void under Section 28 of the Contract Act, ordering payment within eight weeks plus 6% interest. Insurers may appeal to the Supreme Court.
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Jio Financial Services and Germany’s Allianz have formally launched their 50:50 insurance joint venture, incorporating Jio Allianz General Insurance. The new firm plans to offer general insurance products, including health insurance, in India. The move also follows Allianz’s earlier exit from a previous JV with Bajaj Finserv, signaling a new push into the country’s insurance market.
Amazon India has upgraded health and insurance benefits for 90,000 delivery partners, adding outpatient coverage, hospitalisation support, and compensation for temporary and permanent disabilities. The package also includes higher group personal accident coverage, capped out-of-pocket costs, and mediclaim top-ups. Amazon is also running free health screening camps nationwide and linking the initiative to a 2,800 crore investment.
Raise Financial, the parent of stock trading platform Dhan, has acquired GreenLife Insurance for about $15 million in a cash-and-stock deal. The move is designed to build a direct-to-consumer insurance distribution and broking business, using GreenLife’s decade of experience to expand beyond trading into financial services.
Weeks after buying algo-trading platform Stratzy, Raise Financial Services has acquired GreenLife Insurance Broking in a cash-and-stock deal without revealing terms. The unicorn plans to invest $15 million to build a direct-to-consumer insurance distribution platform, combining GIBL’s insurance expertise with Raise’s product and technology push across metro and tier II markets.
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Amazon’s push into quick commerce is unsettling Blinkit, despite the move arriving later than competitors. The latest ETtech dispatch also flags fresh insurance models gaining traction, signaling how marketplaces and adjacent services are reshaping consumer expectations. Together, these developments point to intensifying competition and faster product and policy journeys for customers.
India’s digital precious metals industry has launched the Digital Precious Metals Assurance Council of India (DPMACI) to strengthen consumer protection and trust. Chaired by Nirupama Soundararajan, the self-regulatory body will set and enforce operational and governance standards, including 1:1 physical backing verification and insured vaulting, as digital gold and silver adoption accelerates.
India’s hospital sector is poised for a major expansion as patient demand rises with higher incomes, expanding insurance coverage, aging demographics, and chronic disease burden. Hospitals are also racing to add capacity to address a persistent bed shortage. Alongside AI-driven improvements, growth in private insurance is expected to lift revenues, opening fresh opportunities for investors and operators.
India’s Jan Suraksha schemes have enrolled nearly 940 million people, covering life and accident insurance alongside pension benefits. Payments so far include over ₹21,500 crore under PMJJBY and ₹3,660 crore under PMSBY, with digitisation helping claims settle faster. The government is now weighing revisions to benefit levels to strengthen financial security for citizens.
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Since launching in 2015, the Jansuraksha schemes PMJJBY and PMSBY have settled claims worth over Rs 25,160 crore. Under PMJJBY, more than Rs 21,500 crore has been paid, while PMSBY has settled nearly Rs 3,660 crore. The plans offer low-cost financial protection and have drawn massive enrollment nationwide.
Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath has called out recurring personal finance mistakes in India, singling out the continued buying of ULIPs and endowment plans despite widespread information. He argues there’s little “innovation” behind these traps: insurance and investment are often bundled in confusing ways. Even though health insurance can be complex, he says the bundled products are easier to scrutinize.
Since launching in 2015, India’s Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana has enrolled over 27 crore people and disbursed Rs 17,600 crore in claims, supporting the government’s “Insurance for All by 2047” push. The scheme provides Rs 2 lakh life cover for an annual premium of Rs 436, positioning low-cost coverage at scale.
The government is considering a major expansion of benefits under its Jan Suraksha insurance schemes, including PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY. The move aims to strengthen social safety nets for low income households and informal sector workers by potentially increasing the sum insured, offering greater financial protection.
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PB Fintech has reported a 54% year-on-year jump in March-quarter net profit to Rs 261 crore, helped by faster insurance premium growth and improved margins. Revenue rose 36% as lending disbursals and renewal income increased. The firm also expanded its agent network sharply, bolstering distribution across both insurance and credit products.
As India’s heatwaves intensify, gig delivery platforms including Amazon, Zomato, Blinkit, Swiggy, BigBasket and Flipkart are rolling out tech-driven and on-ground heat safety measures. Companies are expanding insurance coverage, adding SOS and weather alerts in apps, installing cooling infrastructure in dark stores, and offering cooling vests, doctor consultations and rest stops. A union is now pushing for enforceable legal protections.
Star Health is aiming for Gross Written Premium of Rs 24,000 crore in FY27, up from Rs 20,400 crore last year, and targets Rs 30,000 crore by FY28. The insurer plans to launch two affordable products for smaller towns, while faster claim settlements in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have improved regional GWP and policy growth.
SEBI chairman said banks and insurance companies will not be allowed to invest in commodity derivatives. The regulator had earlier discussed allowing pension funds to trade commodities, but that decision has not been disclosed. The stance immediately hit sentiment, with shares of the Multi Commodity Exchange of India falling after the development.
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India has notified 100% foreign direct investment in insurance companies via the automatic route, coming into effect under the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025. The move follows Cabinet clearance and raises the FDI cap from 74% to 100%, aiming to boost long-term capital and insurance penetration. Foreign investment still needs IRDAI regulatory clearance, with conditions including resident leadership, RBI FEMA pricing norms, and LIC remains capped at 20%.
The Centre has allowed 100% FDI in the insurance sector through the automatic route, a major shift from tighter entry conditions. The move keeps FDI subject to the Insurance Act, 1938, and requires companies receiving foreign investment to obtain the necessary licence or approval from IRDAI to undertake insurance and related activities.
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