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Life insurers see double-digit premium growth in March; retail business performance variesLife insurers report strong March premium growth, with Axis Max, ICICI Prudential and LIC showing gains but mixed trends in retail APE performance.By Yash Jain   |  Anshul  April 21, 2026, 1:14:56 PM IST (Published)2 Min ReadLife insurers reported varied growth trends in March, with premium collections rising across major players, while retail segments showed mixed movement.

Axis Max Life Insurance reported an 11% year-on-year increase in premium income. Its retail annual premium equivalent (APE) grew 7%, while total APE rose 8% compared with the same period last year.

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance saw a sharper increase in overall premium collections, which rose 47% year-on-year. However, its retail APE declined 1%, even as total APE recorded a 55% increase.

Life Insurance Corporation of India posted a 17% rise in premiums. Retail APE grew 10%, while total APE increased 11% year-on-year.

In the general insurance segment, premium growth trends also remained varied during the month. ICICI Lombard General Insurance reported a 21% year-on-year increase in gross direct premium income, compared with an industry-wide growth of around 8% for the same period. On a quarterly basis, the insurer reported an 18% rise in premiums for the fourth quarter of FY26, against a 5% increase in the corresponding period last year.

Among other insurers, New India Assurance reported a 13% growth in premiums, while Go Digit General Insurance posted a 10% increase.

In the health insurance segment, Niva Bupa Health Insurance reported a 37% rise in premiums, higher than the broader segment growth of about 22%. In contrast, Star Health and Allied Insurance recorded a 16% increase, below the segment average.Continue ReadingTagsinsurancelife insurance