In 1995, new postal life insurance schemes were introduced to offer lower premium, comprehensive life coverage to the rural population of the country. These policies were branded as Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) and were made available to people leaving outside the municipal bounds of towns and cities.
+Tax benefit is subject to changes in tax laws.
++All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply
Rural Postal Life Insurance was introduced in the Indian rural landscape to extend comprehensive insurance coverage for people living in these areas. It was easy for the government to implement these plans in the rural parts of the country owing to the extensive network of Post Offices in these areas. The low cost of operations in such parts also made the distribution of rural postal life insurance coverage quicker. The life insurance plans can be bought from any of the nearby Post Office branches or online.
Rural Postal Life Insurance online can be accessed through the website of India Post under its ‘Postal Life Insurance’ category. One can use this online portal to buy these policies, estimate premium quotes through the featured rural postal life insurance calculator, and pay premiums.
Further, the Department of Posts also launched digital versions of the policy bonds for rural postal life insurance schemes. The electronic form of the policy bond is now treated as a valid document for any kind of policy-related transaction. Policyholders of RPLI schemes can access these e-PLI bonds online on the Digilocker application. This was aimed to facilitate smoother claim settlements and easier access to insurance in the digital era.
Year | Policies in Force (Units) | Sum Assured (Rs. Crore) | Fund Corpus (Rs. Crore) |
2007-2008 | 61,67,928 | 41,846.09 | 3003.78 |
2008-2009 | 73,56,446 | 53,072.10 | 3994.36 |
2009-2010 | 99,25,103 | 59,572.59 | 5,524.69 |
2010-2011 | 1,22,03,345 | 66,132.23 | 6,607.79 |
2011-2012 | 1,35,47.355 | 69,754.17 | 9,141.43 |
2012-2013 | 1,46,64.650 | 75,154.06 | 11,388.20 |
2013-2014 | 1,50,14,314 | 79,466.46 | 13,352.01 |
2014-2015 | 2,35,14,055 | 1.05,204.79 | 14,968.67 |
2015-2016 | 1,49,15,652 | 81,733.73 | 18,113.78 |
2016-2017 | 1,46,84,096 | 83, 983.47 | 20,716.62 |
There are currently 6 different types of rural postal life insurance schemes designed for people specifically living outside the municipal boundaries of a city or a town.
RPLI Schemes | RPLI Details |
Gram Suraksha | This rural postal life insurance policy is a whole life assurance scheme designed for the people of rural India. The life assured has the option to convert this policy into an endowment assurance policy on completing 5 years. |
Gram Suvidha | This rural postal life insurance policy is a convertible whole life assurance policy that can be converted into an endowment-based policy after the completion of 5 policy years. Just like online term plan, on the death of the life assured the policy offers the entire death benefit amount to the assigned nominees. |
Gram Santosh | It is a traditional endowment assurance plan for the people of rural India, under which the sum assured and the accrued bonus is offered until the policyholder reached the maturity age. |
Gram Priya - 10 Years Rural Postal Life Insurance | It is a money-back insurance scheme with a policy term of 10 years. Policyholders can claim survival benefits after 4 years, 7 years, and 10 years into the coverage. |
Gram Sumangal (Anticipated Endowment Assurance) | This rural postal life insurance scheme is also a money-back policy, but with a longer policy term of 15 to 20 years. If the life assured dies within the policy term chosen, the entire sum assured on death along with bonuses is payable to the nominees. |
Bal Jeevan Bima | This is an insurance policy specifically designed for children of the policyholders. This rural postal life insurance scheme offers life coverage to these children. |
Key Features of Gram Suraksha
The loan facility can be availed of after 4 years into the policy.
The policy can be surrendered after 3 years of the policy being in force.
Bonuses are applicable at a rate of Rs. 60 per Rs. 1000 sum assured.
The life assured can convert Gram Suraksha whole life plan into an endowment-based policy till (s)he reached 59 years of age.
Eligibility Criteria of Gram Suraksha
Criteria | Minimum | Maximum |
Entry Age | 19 years | 55 years |
Sum Assured | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
Premium Paying Age | 55 years / 58 years / 60 years |
Key Features of Gram Suvidha
The policy cannot be converted to an endowment assurance policy after 6 years of policy issuance.
Loan facilities can be availed after 4 years.
The Gram Suvidha policy can be surrendered only after 3 years.
Bonus (if the policy has not been converted) shall accrue at Rs. 60 per 1000 sum assured.
Eligibility Criteria of Gram Suvidha
Criteria | Minimum | Maximum |
Entry Age | 19 years | 50 years |
Sum Assured | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
Key Features of Gram Santosh
Policyholders can avail of loans after 3 years into the life cover.
The policy acquires surrender value after 3 years of policy inception.
The bonus amount shall not be payable if the policy is surrendered before completing 5 years.
The bonus rate of gram santosh accrues at Rs. 48 per 1000 sum assured, as per latest figures.
Eligibility Criteria of Gram Santosh
Criteria | Minimum | Maximum |
Entry Age | 19 years | 55 years |
Maturity Age | 35 years | 60 years |
Sum Assured | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
Key Features of Gram Priya
Survival benefits are equal to 20% of the sum assured payable at the end of the 4th and the 7th policy year each. At the end of the 10th year, 60% of the sum assured is payable.
Benefits are paid along with bonuses that accrue at a rate of Rs. 45 per 1000 sum assured.
In the case of floods, earthquakes, droughts, cyclones, etc., interest in arrears of premiums won’t be charged for up to 1 year.
Eligibility Criteria of Gram Priya
Criteria | Minimum | Maximum |
Entry Age | 20 years | 45 years |
Survival Benefits | 4th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 7th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 10th Year - 60% of the Sum Assured |
|
Sum Assured | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
Key Features of Gram Sumangal
The policy pays out a percentage of the sum assured on periodic intervals.
The death benefit is payable in full on the death of the life assured within the policy term.
The bonus rate, as per the latest figures, stands at Rs. 45 per 1000 sum assured.
Eligibility Criteria of Gram Sumangal
Policy Term | 15 years | 20 years |
Entry Age | Minimum: 19 years Maximum: 45 years |
Minimum: 19 years Maximum: 40 years |
Survival Benefits | 6th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 9th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 12th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 15th Year - 40% of the Sum Assured |
8th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 12th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 16th Year - 20% of the Sum Assured 20th Year - 40% of the Sum Assured |
Sum Assured | NA | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
Key Features of Bal Jeevan Bima
A maximum of 2 children belonging to the parent policyholder can be covered.
Premiums for the life cover of the children are waived off on the death of the parent policyholder.
The policy acquires a paid-up value on continuous premium payment for 5 years.
The bonus rate for the policy accrues bonus at the rate of Rs. 48 per Rs. 1000 basic sum assured.
Eligibility Criteria of Bal Jeevan Bima
Criteria | Minimum | Maximum |
Entry Age of Children | 5 years | 20 years |
Entry Age of Policyholder (Parent) | NA | 45 years |
Maximum Sum Assured | Rs. 1 Lakh or equal to the sum assured for the parent’s cover (whichever is less) |
If you are planning to buy any of the above-mentioned plans, you should make use of the online Rural Postal Life Insurance Calculator available in India Post’s website. The tool allows you to compare premiums against the sum assured, your age, etc. You have the option to make changes and see the results in real-time.
With premium estimation, you shall be in a better position to identify the affordability of the cover. The rural postal life insurance calculator is free of cost and factors in various aspects to arrive at the most accurate figure. However, note that bonus rates are subject to change, and therefore, the results are only indicative and should not be construed as definite.
You can calculate rural postal life insurance online through the website of India Post. Follow the guide below if you are looking to purchase any of the 6 RPLI schemes discussed above.
On India Post’s website, scroll down to Postal Life Insurance and click on it.
You shall be redirected to an external website after clicking on OK.
Under the tab Purchase a Policy, click on Quote.
Fill in the required contact details, DOB, product type (RPLI in this case), sum assured, occupation, gender, state of residence, and the name of the insurance scheme.
Fill in the image captcha and click on Get Quote.
The resulting page offers monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly premium quotes.
Once you get the desired premium quote (using the above steps) against the sum assured, click on Select.
Choose the Nearest H.O. and click on OK.
At this stage, you will be asked to fill up personal information. Once done, click on Next.
Following this, there are additional forms to filled including details of correspondence, employment details, nominee’s details, history of insurance, and medical history.
Now you will be required to insert the Base Coverage required. This page will display monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly premium rates (inclusive of taxes).
Pick the best option for yourself and click on Next.
Fill in the Declaration and agree to the terms and conditions.
Confirm the payment details and click on Submit.
Proposal Form
Self-attested or thumb impressed age proof such as:
Birth Certificate
School Certificate/Mark sheet
PAN Card / PRAN Card
Passport
Driving Licence
Aadhar Card
Voter-id
Elder’s declaration
Approximate age certificate from the Medical Examiner
Declaration by the life assured, and then signed by a Panchayat Member
Self-attested or thumb impressed address proof and identity proof such as:
Aadhar Card
Voter-id
Passport
Driving License
Ration Card
Electricity Bill or Water Bill
Medical Report
Declaration of Medical Examiner
Declaration in cases wherein the proposer is illiterate
Certificate by DO/FO(PLI)/AGENT
Confidential report - Certificate by SDI/ASP