Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Finance addressed questions regarding the Life Insurance Corporation's (LIC) Bima Sakhi Yojana (BSY) in Lok Sabha on July 21, 2025. The scheme, launched on December 9, 2024, aims to empower women as career agents. LIC bears all expenses, with a FY 2025-26 budget of Rs 520 crore.
Key Points / Main Content:
Financial Details:
LIC has paid Rs 62.36 crore to Bima Sakhis as stipend in FY 2024-25.
For FY 2025-26, LIC has budgeted Rs 520 crore for the scheme, with Rs 115.13 crore paid up to July 14, 2025.
Beneficiaries:
As of July 2025, there are 2,05,896 Bima Sakhis across the country (state-wise data provided in Annexure).
No Bima Sakhis are present in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep.
Career Advancement & Support:
LIC provides performance-based incentives to Bima Sakhis.
Graduate Bima Sakhis with 5 years of experience can apply for Apprentice Development Officer positions, subject to eligibility.
Bima Sakhis receive stipends for the first 3 years (Rs 7,000/month in year 1 to Rs 5,000/month in year 3), in addition to commission payouts, contingent on performance.
Promotion of the Scheme:
LIC promotes BSY nationwide through its branches, divisions, traditional and digital media, and public forums.
Impact Analysis:
LIC:
Impact: Bears all expenses related to the Bima Sakhi Mahila Career Agent (MCA) Scheme and manages its promotion.
Action Required: Continue disbursing stipends, providing career advancement opportunities, and promoting the scheme nationwide.
Bima Sakhis:
Impact: Receive stipends, performance-based incentives, and opportunities for career advancement within LIC.
Action Required: Meet performance parameters to receive stipends and consider applying for Apprentice Development Officer positions after 5 years if eligible.
Women in Rural and Semi-Urban Areas:
Impact: Targeted beneficiaries of the BSY, gaining opportunities for financial independence and career development as insurance agents.
Action Required: Engage with LIC's promotional activities to learn about and potentially join the BSY scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Finance: The ministry within the Government of India responsible for financial matters.
Department of Financial Services: A department under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Bima Sakhi Yojana: A scheme focused on empowering women as insurance agents, especially in rural areas.
Shri Pankaj Chaudhary: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Life Insurance Corporation of India: A state-owned insurance group and investment company. Referred to as LIC in the text.
Bima Sakhi Mahila Career Agent Scheme: A scheme of LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) which focuses on women as career agents.
Maharashtra: A state in India with a significant number of Bima Sakhis.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 40
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 21 JULY, 2025/ASHADHA 30, 1947 (SAKA)
Amount sanctioned and utilised under Bima Sakhi Yojana
. 40. Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske:
Smt. Shambhavi:
Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:
Shri Rajesh Verma:
Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar
Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the financial outlay, amount sanctioned, disbursed and utilized under the
Life Insurance Company’s Bima Sakhi Yojana (BSY) since its inception;
(b) the details of the beneficiaries under the aforementioned scheme as of July 2025, State-
wise;
(c) the details of the opportunities available for Bima Sakhis to advance their career and the
way by which the programme ensure continued support and mentorship for Bima Sakhis
beyond their initial training phase;
(d) the steps taken/being taken to promote awareness about the BSY among women in rural
and semi urban areas for equitable implementation of the aforementioned scheme; and
(e) whether the Government is considering to expand the scope of the aforementioned
scheme to include additional roles or integrate it with other women-focused Government
initiatives and if so, the details there of
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a) Bima Sakhi- “Mahila Career Agent (MCA) Scheme” of LIC was launched on 9.12.2024.
As such, any expense in connection with the scheme is borne by LIC. LIC has paid Rs 62.36
crore to Bima Sakhis as stipend in FY 2024-25. In the current Financial Year (2025-26), LIC
has provided a budget of Rs 520 crore for the scheme, out of which Rs 115.13 crore has been
paid up to 14.7.2025.
(b) At present, there are 2,05,896 Bima Sakhis in the country. The State wise data for Bima
Sakhis is placed at Annexure.
(c) LIC provides opportunities to Bima Sakhis, in furtherance of their career by way of several
performance-based incentives. Graduate Bima Sakhis, after completion of 5 years, may
participate in the recruitment process for the post of Apprentice Development officers of LIC,
upon fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
Apart from above, LIC pays stipend to Bima Sakhis for first 3 years from their appointment to
support them build a life insurance agency career. The stipend scheme is in addition to their
commission pay-outs and is subject to certain performance parameters. The amount of the
stipend ranges from Rs 7000/- per month in the first year to Rs 5000/- in the third year.(d) and (e) Bima Sakhi Yojna, being an initiative of LIC, is being promoted throughout the
country from LIC’s various branches and divisions, traditional and digital media and pitching
in public forums.
*******Annexure referred in reply of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 40 for 21.7.2025*
State/UT wise Bima Sakhis
Number of Number of
SL State/UT SL State/UT
Bima Sakhis Bima Sakhis
1 Andaman & Nicobar 39 18 Maharashtra 18086
2 Andhra Pradesh 20054 19 Manipur 124
3 Arunachal Pradesh 47 20 Meghalaya 63
4 Assam 3018 21 Mizoram 53
5 Bihar 10975 22 Nagaland 40
6 Chandigarh 528 23 Odisha 9047
7 Chhattisgarh 4673 24 Pondicherry 272
8 Delhi 3251 25 Punjab 3855
9 Goa 506 26 Rajasthan 15243
10 Gujarat 6449 27 Sikkim 50
11 Haryana 8495 28 Tamil Nadu 11836
12 Himachal Pradesh 3037 29 Telangana 10908
13 Jammu & Kashmir 2204 30 Tripura 409
14 Jharkhand 3673 31 Uttar Pradesh 23152
15 Karnataka 14117 32 Uttaranchal 2260
16 Kerala 5481 33 West Bengal 12006
17 Madhya Pradesh 11945 Total 205896
* There are no Bima Sakhis in Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Ladakh and
Lakshadweep.