Rajya Sabha passes Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 aimed at raising limit of foreign investment to 74pc

The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021, which aims to raise the limit of foreign investment in an Indian insurance company from the existing 49 to 74 per cent.

While addressing the House, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "FDI limit is not a compulsion; it only sets the upper limit. Increasing the limit does not mean automatic foreign investment to that level to all compes. Every company will decide for themselves, whether they want that money, to what extent, and so on."

She added, "This enabling amendment is only to allow them to receive some money but not exceed 74 per cent. The policyholders' money that is going to be collected will have to be invested within India only. It cannot be crossing our boundaries."

She further said that when money comes and when there is more competition, the common people of India will have a better deal given to them and a better negotiating premium and better package.

"Competition is strictly for betterment," she added.

Sitharaman introduced the Bill for amendments in the Insurance Act, 1938. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday had given its nod for amendments in the Insurance Amendment Bill 2021.

Earlier, the permissible FDI limit in life and general insurance stood at 49 per cent with ownership and management control with Indians.

( With inputs from ANI )