Manan Shah is a finance and economics writer with experience in research and analysis. His work centers on investments and personal finance, where he translates complex ideas into clear, practical insights for everyday readers. He has written extensively on mutual funds, market trends, and financial planning, with a strong focus on accuracy, clarity, and reader relevance.
29 articles published
We scored every life insurer on ombudsman complaints using 3 years of IRDAI data. Bharti AXA alone has 18% of all cases. Full insurer-wise complaint scorecard with trends.
44 quarters of IRDAI data (2014-2025) ranked by insurer solvency ratio. See who consistently exceeds the 1.50x minimum and who cuts it close.
86 lakh policies lapsed in FY 2024-25, erasing ₹8.7 lakh crore in coverage. 12 years of IRDAI data reveals which insurers lose the most policyholders and why.
Death claims jumped 84% during COVID and payouts surged 147%. The surprise: rejection rates hit a 12-year low, then climbed back. Full IRDAI data inside.
We analysed 994 life insurance court cases (2000–2026). Non-disclosure appears in 59.1% of cases; consumers win 57.7% of decided cases. Full breakdown by court, insurer, and rejection ground.
A 2026 LocalCircles survey found 80% of online insurance buyers face difficulty cancelling policies, up from 61% two years ago. 90% report aggressive nagging and 82% experience bait-and-switch pricing. Here’s what the data says, what regulators are doing, and how to protect yourself.
Complete guide to term insurance for smokers and tobacco users in India. Learn how much more you’ll pay, what the cotinine test detects, why disclosure is non-negotiable, and how quitting can lower your premiums.
A complete guide to building family term insurance protection in India. Learn how to calculate coverage for each earning member, compare joint life vs individual policies, use staggered coverage to save money, and protect payouts with the MWP Act.
Everything you need to know about term insurance for women: working women, homemakers, and single mothers. Eligibility, coverage calculations, riders, and the step-by-step buying process.
Everything you need to know about buying term insurance before 40: how age affects your premium, what the age limit means, how much cover you need at different life stages, and the mistakes that cost young buyers lakhs.
You buy a term insurance policy today, and it protects your family for the next 30 years. But what about the rules governing that policy? Those are changing too. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has been quietly reshaping insurance regulation in India through a series of reforms aimed at making policies … Read more
When comparing term insurance plans, most people look at the insurer’s claim settlement ratio (CSR) as the single most important metric. A CSR of 98% sounds reassuring. But that number tells you how many death benefit claims were settled, not how rider claims performed. If you have added a critical illness rider, accidental death benefit, … Read more
In a market full of term insurance products with riders, return-of-premium options, increasing cover variants, and bundled investment features, the simplest product is also the most effective: plain vanilla term insurance, also called a pure term insurance plan. No frills, no maturity benefit, no investment component. Just a death benefit paid to your nominee if … Read more
Most families skip insuring homemakers. Replacing childcare, cooking, and household work costs lakhs per year. Why term insurance for non-earners matters.
When you take a home loan in India, the lender will almost certainly offer you a Home Loan Protection Plan (HLPP). It sounds sensible: a policy that pays off your home loan if you die, so your family keeps the house. But before signing up, you should understand how HLPPs compare to regular term insurance. … Read more
When you take a business loan, the lender evaluates your ability to repay. But what happens if you are no longer around to make those payments? For sole proprietors and partners, the business loan does not simply disappear. It becomes a liability that falls on your family, your business partner, or your estate. This is … Read more
Everyone says buy as much term insurance as you can afford. Online calculators push you toward round numbers: ₹1 crore, ₹2 crore, ₹5 crore. The logic seems sound: premiums are cheap, so why not go big? But here is the uncomfortable truth: more coverage is not always better coverage. Buying too much can strain your … Read more
“Buy term insurance as early as possible” is one of the most repeated pieces of financial advice in India. And on the surface, it makes sense: premiums are lowest in your 20s, so locking in early saves money. But there is a less obvious side to this argument. At 25, most people have no dependents, … Read more
“Everyone needs term insurance” is one of the most common statements in personal finance. It is also not entirely accurate. Term insurance is designed to protect financial dependents from the loss of your income. If you do not have financial dependents, or if your dependents are already financially secure, the equation changes. This does not … Read more
Most term insurance advice targets people with dependents: “protect your spouse,” “secure your children’s future,” “replace your income for your family.” But what about people who are single, have no children, and whose parents are financially independent, yet carry significant loans? A home loan of ₹50 lakh, a car loan of ₹8 lakh, an education … Read more
Your 50s aren’t the ideal time to buy term insurance. But they are the last practical time. If you’re in your early 50s and realizing you need life cover, you’re facing a tough reality: premiums are 3-4 times higher than they were in your 30s. Medical underwriting is stricter. Some insurers won’t even consider you … Read more
“Savings and investments are fine. But how do I make sure my family’s future is secure if I am not around?” That is where term insurance for family protection comes in. Unlike savings or investments, it is not about building wealth. Unlike tax-saving instruments, it is not about short-term benefits. Term insurance does one thing: … Read more
Your 40s are when life insurance stops being theoretical and starts being urgent. You have dependents who rely on your income, loans that won’t vanish if you do, and retirement goals that need protection. Yet this is also the decade when premiums start climbing sharply and insurers start asking harder questions about your health. Here’s … Read more
Life’s simple rhythm: salary in, expenses out, makes us feel invincible. But what happens when that rhythm suddenly stops? If you’re gone tomorrow, how will your family survive without your regular income? Term insurance isn’t just about paying off a mortgage or funding kids’ education; it can preserve your family’s everyday life. That’s where income-replacement … Read more
When we think of term insurance, the first thing that comes to mind is family protection. Rightly so. But there’s a sweet bonus tucked in: tax savings.The best part? You don’t have to pick one over the other. A term plan gives you both: solid financial security for your loved ones and a lighter tax … Read more
Non-disclosure is the #1 reason term insurance claims get rejected in India. We cover the exact causes insurers cite, red flags they check, and steps to make your policy claim-proof.
The free look period is a consumer-friendly provision in Indian insurance law. It gives policyholders a limited window after receiving their policy document to review the terms and conditions, and if unsatisfied, cancel the policy and claim a refund. For term insurance buyers, this safeguard is especially important because it ensures transparency and protects against mis-selling. … Read more
Term insurance is one of the most cost-effective ways to secure your family’s financial future, yet many buyers struggle at the very first step: getting a quote. In India, insurers and online aggregators provide quotes instantly, but few understand how these quotes are calculated, what factors influence them, and why two insurers may offer very different premiums for … Read more
We compared India’s top term insurance plans for 2026 by claim settlement ratio, premiums, rider options, and coverage limits. Side-by-side data to help you pick the right policy.