Quick Overview

IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IRDAI Registration No: 143) is a private life insurer backed by Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, and Carmel Point Investments (Warburg Pincus). Established in 2009, it primarily operates through a bancassurance model, leveraging its parent banks’ wide distribution network.

The insurer offers a mix of term, savings, ULIPs, and retirement plans. It stands out for competitive pricing, especially in term insurance, where premiums are often lower than those of many leading insurers. However, its claims performance falls in the mid-tier range, with decent but not best-in-class settlement ratios and relatively higher complaint levels.

IndiaFirst Life Insurance may not be the flashiest name in the market, but it’s quietly gaining attention. This is due to the recent buzz around a possible stake sale, where BNP Paribas is reportedly eyeing Warburg Pincus’ shareholding. Strategies like this usually signal growing confidence in the insurer’s long-term potential.

But does investor interest translate into a good experience for policyholders?

That’s what we’ll answer in this detailed IndiaFirst Life Insurance review.

IndiaFirst Life Insurance Performance Metrics

MetricsIndiaFirst Life Insurance’s MetricsIndustry Average
CSR (%) (FY2022–25)97.98%98.66% (Mean)
ASR (%) (FY 2021-24)92.4%94.07% (Mean)
Avg Complaints received per 10,000 claims (FY2022-25)60.8817.67 (Median)
Annual Business / GWP (₹ Crores)₹2,969₹3,411.73 (Median) 
Solvency Ratio (FY 2022-25)2.07x2.04x (Median)

In the table above, CSR means claim settlement ratio, ASR stands for amount settlement ratio, and GWP refers to gross written premium. At Ditto, we prefer analyzing 3-year averages to avoid one good or bad year distorting performance evaluation.

Key Insights:

    • At 97.98%, IndiaFirst’s CSR is reliable but slightly below the industry average, placing it in the mid-tier bracket.
    • At 92.4%, its ASR is slightly below average, suggesting marginally conservative claim payouts compared to leading insurers.
    • The ₹2,969 crore GWP indicates a mid-sized insurer, trailing the industry median in scale and market share. However, its solvency ratio is solid, given that the minimum IRDAI-mandated solvency ratio is 1.5x.
    • The complaint volume is significantly higher than the industry median, indicating potential service and claims experience concerns.
    • IndiaFirst Life Insurance’s solvency ratio is much higher than the IRDAI-mandated minimum of 1.5x. Evidently, it’s also more than the industry average, which signifies a healthy capital buffer.

Note: A simple term insurance checklist can help you compare insurers, check claim settlement ratios, and understand exclusions without feeling overwhelmed.

For convenience, here’s a quick look at all the categories of plans that the IndiaFirst Life Insurance company offers:

Note: The list above covers the most-marketed plans and does not provide a complete view of all plans offered by IndiaFirst.

Now that we’ve covered the lineup, let’s zoom in on IndiaFirst’s flagship term plan.

Spotlight: IndiaFirst Life Elite Term Plan

ParameterDetails
Entry Age18-65 years
Maximum Maturity Age99 years
Sum AssuredRs. 50 Lakhs - No Limit subject to Board Approved Underwriting Policy
Premium Payment FrequencyMonthly / Quarterly/ Half Yearly / Yearly
Policy Term5 years - 81 years
Premium Payment TermRegular (Same as policy term)
Death Benefit Payout OptionsLump sum or monthly instalments for 5 years

Important: This is a pure vanilla term plan that focuses only on basic life cover (no survival or maturity benefits). It does not offer advanced features like riders, increasing cover, life stage benefits, auto cover continuance, terminal illness benefits, or instant claim payouts. In simple terms, you’re getting straightforward protection at a lower premium, but with limited flexibility and add-ons.

Premium Comparison: IndiaFirst Life Insurance vs. Other Insurers

ProfileIndiaFirst’s Life Elite Term PlanAxis Max Life’s Smart Term Plan PlusHDFC Life’s Click2Protect Supreme Plus
25, Male₹17,564₹18,952₹21,424
25, Female₹14,918₹16,110₹18,209
30, Male₹22,307₹23,234₹27,000
30, Female₹18,421₹19,750₹22,951

For this example, we’ve taken healthy profiles of non-smoking, salaried individuals, covered for a sum assured of ₹2 Crores till the age of 70. The premiums are indicative in nature and can vary based on your age, health condition, lifestyle choices, and underwriting decisions. Moreover, the figures exclude first-year discounts (2nd year premiums).

Insights: IndiaFirst clearly offers lower premiums across profiles, but the difference with top insurers is relatively small. Given that premiums naturally increase with age and vary by risk factors, this small price advantage may not fully justify the lack of features and riders.

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Riders Available in IndiaFirst Life Insurance Plans

IndiaFirst Term Rider

The IndiaFirst Term rider enhances your base cover by offering an additional sum assured over and above the policy amount. It also provides quicker financial support with a payout on claim acceptance, helping nominees manage immediate expenses.

IndiaFirst Life Waiver of Premium Rider

The IndiaFirst Life Insurance Waiver of Premium rider ensures your policy continues even during tough times by waiving all future premiums if the life assured faces death, total permanent disability, or any of the 10 specified critical illnesses. It helps protect long-term coverage without adding financial strain on the family.

IndiaFirst Life Accidental Death Benefit (ADB) Rider

The IndiaFirst Accidental Death Benefit rider provides an extra payout (up to ₹2 crore) in case of death due to an accident, over and above the base sum assured. However, at Ditto, we generally don’t recommend ADB riders since their coverage is limited to specific scenarios, and the base cover already includes accidental deaths.

IndiaFirst Life Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) Rider

IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company’s Total and Permanent Disability rider offers a lump sum benefit (up to ₹1 crore) if the policyholder suffers total and permanent disability due to accident or illness. It acts as an income protection layer, helping maintain financial stability during life-altering events.

Note: None of these riders is available with the above-mentioned Life Elite Term Plan, which is marketed as IndiaFirst Life Insurance’s primary term offering. However, the Accidental Death Benefit rider and Total and Permanent Disability rider are available with the Super Protection Plan. To learn more about which riders we typically recommend at Ditto, you can check out our detailed guide on Term Insurance Riders.

Top 10 Life Insurance Companies in India by Claim Settlement Ratio

Some of the top insurers by CSR include:

IndiaFirst Life Insurance

Disclaimer: CSR reflects the overall claim settlement performance of the insurer across all life insurance products, including term plans, and is not specific to any single policy or policy category. For complete exclusions, benefits, and conditions, always refer to the official policy brochure before making a decision. 

Insight: Clearly, IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company does not make the cut because its claim settlement ratio is lower than that of the top 10 insurers by CSR.

Why Choose Ditto for Term Insurance?

At Ditto, we’ve assisted over 8,00,000 customers with choosing the right insurance policy. Why customers like Vijay below love us:

IndiaFirst Life Insurance
    • No-Spam & No Salesmen
    • Rated 4.9/5 on Google Reviews by 15,000+ happy customers
    • Backed by Zerodha
    • Dedicated Claim Support Team
    • 100% Free Consultation

Confused about the right term insurance? Speak to Ditto’s certified advisors for free, unbiased guidance. Book your call or WhatsApp us now, slots fill up fast!

Conclusion

IndiaFirst Life Insurance is a fairly average insurer; not the best, but not the worst either. Its claim metrics are decent, but not strong enough to stand out. While the premiums for its flagship Elite Term Plan are slightly cheaper, it is extremely basic, offering none of the features or flexibility that most top insurers provide today.

So you’re essentially saving a bit on price, but also giving up riders, advanced benefits, and overall product depth. For most people, that trade-off just doesn’t make much sense, especially when better-rounded options are available at only a slightly higher premium.

If you are looking for comprehensive term coverage that align your long-term goals, we recommend the best term insurance companies for 2026. Explore more about how our experts evaluate term plans through Ditto’s cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IndiaFirst Life Insurance a good company?

IndiaFirst is a stable insurer with strong backing, but its claims performance is mid-tier, and complaint levels are relatively higher. Moreover, there are no riders in its flagship term plan to enhance coverage.

How can I check my IndiaFirst Life Insurance policy status?

You can check your policy status online through the track application page on the IndiaFirst website, customer portal, or via your bank partner.

What is the claim settlement ratio of IndiaFirst Life Insurance?

IndiaFirst has a claim settlement ratio of around 97.98% as an average of FY 2022-2025, slightly below the industry average.

Are IndiaFirst term insurance plans cheap?

Yes, IndiaFirst term plans are generally more affordable than top insurers, but they also come with fewer features and add-ons.

Should I buy IndiaFirst Life Insurance or choose another insurer?

If price is your priority, it can be considered. But for better features and claims experience, top insurers may be a better choice.

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