Broadly  speaking there are two  main branches of insurance  in our country, viz.,  life insurance  and General 
insurance . The general insurance 
is subdivided  into three types,
fire insurance , marine insurance  and miscellaneous
insurance  This classifications  is highlighted in the figure given
below:  The above mentioned types of the
have been briefly discussed below:
 (1).  LIFE INSURANCE: It refers to
a contract in which is the  insurer
agrees to pay a specified  amount of the
on the death of the assured or on the expiry of a certain fixed period,
whichever  is earlier, . In consideration
of this, the insurer  collects
premiums,  from the insured. Since the
sum for which a policy  is take is
assured to be paid, whether there is death or not, Life insurance is also
often  referred to as : Life Assurance”
In  India 
the life business is being undertaken by the Life insurance
Corporation  (LIC), of India and twelve
private insurance companies such as
(2).  GENERAL INSURANCE:  Except 
life insurance  all other
insurances  come under general insurance  . Before 1971, there were about the 107
general insurance  c9ompanies,  in India both Indian and foreign . These  companies were mismanaged  insurance 
was a meant  for big industrial,
services to clients  was partial, there
were no  service conditions   to staff. In view of these was partial there
were no service conditions or to staff. In view of these limitations  the Govt. of India  has enacted General insurance  Business ( Nationalizations)  Act 1972, to take over general insurance  business. Under the provisions  of the. Act the general insurance  Corporations (GIC) India was established  in Jan. 9173, for the purpose  of a this directing controlling and carrying
a  on the general insurance  business in India. Later all the 107
companies,  were amalgamated and
grouped  into the 4 operating companies
viz., National Insurance Co Ltd.,  H. O.
Calcutta the New India Assurance  Co
Ltd., H. O. Mumbai.,  The
Oriental insurance  Co Ltd., H. O  New Delhi and United India  insurance 
Co. Ltd., H. O. Chennai . These 
four companies  became
subsidiaries of the general insurance 
corporations  of India. These four
companies were established  to achieve
the following twin objectives:  (a) . To
ensure that these are so situated  as to
under render their combined services effectively  and in all the parts of the India and,
(b) . To ensure proper service to the public through mutual competitions. In 1999, the IRDA act introduced a an amendment to the General insurance Business (Nationalizations) Act 1972, by which the exclusive privilege enjoyed by the GIC and its four subsidiaries for carrying on general insurance was removed . (1) FIRE INSURANCE: This insurance covers risk of fire to the property because there is a every likelihood of fire spreading of the in big factories, godowns houses, shops and a ships. The insurance not only covers risk of fire insurance but also the consequential losses from such loss. (2) . MARINE INSURANCE: This is a oldest from if insurance and covers a are a all the marine perils. Due to the marine perils, the ship can be damaged or destroyed cargo and can be lost and consequently there can be loss of freight . Therefore the marine insurance covers the risk to ship, cargo and freight on the high seas.
(3). MISCELLANEOUS INSURANCE: All other general insurances fall under the miscellaneous category. It include Motor insurance, public liability insurance, product liability insurance, Professional indemnity insurance, workman compensations insurance, personal accidents insurance, Individual medi claim policy, Group mediclaim policy, Overseas mediclaims policy, Bhagyashree child welfare policy, Rajeshwari Mahila Kalyan Bima Yojna, Burglary insurance, Shop keepers insurance, Jewellery block insurance, Money insurance, Fidelity guarantee insurance, Neon sign policy, Duty insurance, Electronic Equipment insurance, Boiler Explosion insurance, Machinery breakdown insurance, Erection all risks insurance, Contractor’s all risks insurance, Refrigeration insurance. Baggage insurance, All risks insurance, Amartya Siksha Yojna insurance policy, Sahana safer insurance . Householders insurance, pedel cycle insurance, Plate glass insurance, Advance loss of profits policy, Marine cum erection policy, sports insurance, Special contingency policy, Students safety insurance, and a Rural insurance.
(b) . To ensure proper service to the public through mutual competitions. In 1999, the IRDA act introduced a an amendment to the General insurance Business (Nationalizations) Act 1972, by which the exclusive privilege enjoyed by the GIC and its four subsidiaries for carrying on general insurance was removed . (1) FIRE INSURANCE: This insurance covers risk of fire to the property because there is a every likelihood of fire spreading of the in big factories, godowns houses, shops and a ships. The insurance not only covers risk of fire insurance but also the consequential losses from such loss. (2) . MARINE INSURANCE: This is a oldest from if insurance and covers a are a all the marine perils. Due to the marine perils, the ship can be damaged or destroyed cargo and can be lost and consequently there can be loss of freight . Therefore the marine insurance covers the risk to ship, cargo and freight on the high seas.
(3). MISCELLANEOUS INSURANCE: All other general insurances fall under the miscellaneous category. It include Motor insurance, public liability insurance, product liability insurance, Professional indemnity insurance, workman compensations insurance, personal accidents insurance, Individual medi claim policy, Group mediclaim policy, Overseas mediclaims policy, Bhagyashree child welfare policy, Rajeshwari Mahila Kalyan Bima Yojna, Burglary insurance, Shop keepers insurance, Jewellery block insurance, Money insurance, Fidelity guarantee insurance, Neon sign policy, Duty insurance, Electronic Equipment insurance, Boiler Explosion insurance, Machinery breakdown insurance, Erection all risks insurance, Contractor’s all risks insurance, Refrigeration insurance. Baggage insurance, All risks insurance, Amartya Siksha Yojna insurance policy, Sahana safer insurance . Householders insurance, pedel cycle insurance, Plate glass insurance, Advance loss of profits policy, Marine cum erection policy, sports insurance, Special contingency policy, Students safety insurance, and a Rural insurance.



