Published: 6 February 2026PIB / PRS India / KPMG IndiaEconomy
Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025 Comes into Force on February 5, 2026 — 100% FDI in Insurance Sector Now Permitted
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025 came into force on February 5, 2026, marking the most significant overhaul of India's insurance regulatory framework in decades. The Act was passed by Lok Sabha on December 16 and Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2025, and received Presidential assent on December 20, 2025.
Key provisions include: (1) Raising FDI limit in Indian insurance companies from 74% to 100% of paid-up equity capital, positioning India as one of the most open insurance markets globally; (2) Reducing net-owned fund requirements for foreign reinsurance entities from ₹5,000 crore to ₹1,000 crore; (3) Establishing a dedicated Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund; (4) Aligning policyholders' data collection with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023; (5) Broadening the definition of insurance intermediaries to include managing general agents and insurance repositories; and (6) Empowering IRDAI to disgorge wrongful gains from insurers and intermediaries.
The Act amends the Insurance Act 1938, the LIC Act 1956, and the IRDA Act 1999. The enhanced FDI ceiling is expected to attract fresh capital inflows, improve technology adoption, introduce global best practices, and increase employment in the insurance sector. Rajasthan, with its large uninsured rural population, stands to benefit from enhanced penetration as global insurers seek to expand into tier-2 and tier-3 markets.
0Mains angle
Q: Discuss the key provisions of the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, and evaluate its implications for foreign investment and policyholder protection in India's insurance sector.
Answer (50 words):
Effective February 5, 2026, the Act raised foreign direct investment in insurance from 74 to 100 percent and reduced foreign reinsurer net-owned fund requirements from ₹5,000 crore to ₹1,000 crore. It established a Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund, aligned data rules with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023.
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CoverageNationalSubjectEconomicExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourcePIB / PRS India / KPMG India
Practice MCQ from this story
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Linked questionMedium
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act amends which of the following laws?
Explanation · Correct answer CThe Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act specifically amends insurance laws to allow 100% FDI and expand insurance coverage across India.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act 2025 come into force?
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act 2025 was enacted in December 2025 and came into force on February 5, 2026.
What is the new FDI limit in India's insurance sector after the 2025 Act?
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act 2025 raised the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%, making India fully open to foreign investment in insurance.
What is the Policyholders' Protection Fund established under the 2025 Insurance Act?
The Policyholders' Protection Fund is a new mechanism created under the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act 2025 to safeguard the interests of insurance consumers in India.
How does the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act 2025 relate to the DPDP Act 2023?
The 2025 Insurance Act aligns insurance sector data rules with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, ensuring that customer data handling by insurers complies with India's personal data protection framework.
What changes does the 2025 Insurance Act make regarding reinsurance?
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act 2025 reduces entry barriers for reinsurance, making it easier for global reinsurers to operate in India and deepening the country's insurance market.