Quick Overview

SBI term insurance ₹20 lakh policy is a pure protection plan from SBI Life that pays a ₹20 lakh death benefit to your family if you pass away during the policy term. It acts as a financial safety net to help dependents manage daily expenses, repay debts, and meet essential obligations. Popular SBI Life plans offering this cover include eShield Insta and Saral Jeevan Bima.

Losing the main earner can put a big financial strain on any family, and term insurance helps protect against that risk. But one of the biggest challenges is not just choosing a plan but figuring out how much cover is actually enough.

In this guide, we focus on SBI Term Insurance ₹20 lakh plans, looking at what this coverage offers, who it works best for, and when it may fall short, so you can decide if it truly fits your needs.

SBI Term Insurance Plans Offering ₹20 lakhs Cover

1. SBI Life – Saral Jeevan Bima:

Saral Jeevan Bima is an IRDAI-standardised term life insurance plan that provides simple and affordable life cover without any savings or investment component. The plan provides a lump-sum death benefit to the nominee if the life assured passes away during the policy term. It does not offer any maturity or survival benefits, meaning you or your family won’t receive any payout if the policyholder survives the term.

FeatureDetails
Entry Age18 to 65 years
Maturity AgeUp to 70 years
Policy Term5 to 40 years, depending on the chosen premium payment option
Sum Assured₹5 lakhs  to ₹25 lakhs
Premium Payment TermsSingle, Regular, Limited Pay (5 or 10 years)
Premium ModesYearly, Half-Yearly, Monthly and Single Premium
Waiting Period45 days (during this period, only accidental death is covered; in case of non-accidental death, 100% of premiums paid are refunded, excluding taxes)
RidersNot available

2. SBI Life – eShield Insta:

This is a digital-only plan. If you are looking for a SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs policy that can be bought quickly online with minimal paperwork, eShield Insta is the preferred choice. It has two variants: Plan A (pure term insurance) that pays the sum assured only on death, and Plan B (term insurance with return of premium) that refunds 100% of total premiums paid (excluding taxes) if you survive till maturity. At Ditto, we usually don’t recommend return-of-premium (ROP) plans because their premiums are much higher (about 60-100%) than pure term insurance, and the extra amount you pay delivers no returns over the long term.

Note: SBI Life eShield Insta comes with a fixed 10-year policy term, meaning coverage lasts only for those 10 years and pays a death benefit if the life assured passes away during this period. 

Since it’s a short-term plan, it is usually not suitable as a primary income replacement plan for most people. For example, if you buy this plan at 30, your cover ends at 40, an age when premiums rise and health risks typically increase, leaving you uninsured again.

FeatureDetails
Maximum Maturity Age60 Years
Entry Age18, Max entry age: 50 Years
Sum Assured SlabsFixed slabs: ₹10 lakhs, ₹15 lakhs, ₹20 lakhs, ₹25 lakhs, ₹30 lakhs, ₹35 lakhs, and ₹40 lakhs
Plan Option BReturn of Premium (ROP): Returns 100% of total premiums paid upon maturity
Premium PaymentRegular Premium (payable for the full 10-year term)

Premium Details for SBI Term Insurance ₹20 lakhs

ProfileeShield Insta (Plan A) fixed for 10 yearsSaral Jeevan Bima (till 65yrs)
25-year-old, Male₹3,576₹4,840
25-year-old, Female₹3,218₹4,300
30-year-old, Male₹3,904₹5,840
30-year-old, Female₹3,514₹4,940

Premiums for SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs can vary based on smoking habits and health status. The above are indicative annual premiums for healthy and non-smoking individuals.

Note: If you are comfortable increasing coverage slightly, some offline/basic plans such as LIC New Jeevan Amar allow a minimum sum assured of ₹25 lakh, which may be a better alternative than stopping at ₹20 lakh.

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What Are the Benefits of SBI Term Insurance ₹20 lakhs? 

    • High Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR): SBI Life has maintained a strong average claim settlement ratio of 98.24% from FY22 to FY25. This shows its consistent track record of settling genuine claims on time.
    • Affordable Premiums from SBI: SBI Term Insurance ₹20 lakh plans offer budget-friendly premiums. It is particularly attractive for younger individuals and non-smokers looking for cost-effective life cover.
    • Trusted and Well-Established Insurer: Supported by the State Bank of India, the nation’s largest public-sector bank, SBI Life is among the most reliable and widely trusted term insurance providers in India.

For additional insights, you can explore our in-depth review of SBI Term Insurance.

Who Should Choose a ₹20 lakh Term Plan?

    • Individuals with few financial obligations or dependents
    • Applicants who are unable to secure a higher coverage amount due to income, documents or educational restrictions.
    • People in the early phase of their professional journey
    • Those choosing an initial policy with the intention to increase cover later

Note: The value of ₹20 lakh in 2026 will not be the same in 2040 due to inflation. While it can serve as a good starting point, this coverage should be reviewed every 3–5 years and adjusted as your income, responsibilities, and life goals evolve.

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 Aaron below love us:

SBI term insurance 20 lakhs
    • No-Spam & No Salesmen
    • Rated 4.9/5 on Google Reviews by 15,000+ happy customers
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    • 100% Free Consultation

You can book a FREE consultation. Slots are running out, so make sure you book a call or chat on WhatsApp now!

Ditto’s Take on SBI Term Insurance ₹20 lakhs 

Term insurance is meant to replace your income, pay off loans, fund your children’s education, and cover other future goals. Over time, a ₹20 lakh term policy might fall short, so it’s better to opt for a higher sum assured. If the gap grows, consider upgrading to SBI term insurance ₹50 lakhs or more for total peace of mind. 

Make sure you figure out the right coverage for yourself before buying a plan. You can use our cover calculator to help with that. If you want feature-packed plans from tech-friendly insurers, HDFC Life or Axis Max Life are good options, but SBI Life is also a reliable choice for your future protection.

Disclosure: SBI Life is not a partner insurer of Ditto. All information here comes from the insurer’s website or publicly available sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to buy SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs online?

You can buy SBI Life eShield Insta online via the SBI Life website or YONO SBI app by entering personal and health details, selecting the plan option and sum assured, completing verification, and paying the premium to receive the policy instantly.

Is SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs enough?

₹20 lakh can serve as an entry-level term insurance cover. But it often falls short of covering long-term liabilities like home loans, children's education, and rising inflation. It works best as a starter safety net for those with few dependents and limited liabilities. 

Can I increase the sum assured on my SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs policy after a few years?

No, you cannot automatically raise the sum assured on the same policy. To get higher cover later, you must check with the insurer about the provision for increase or buy a new policy, all of which requires fresh underwriting and health checks.

Are medical tests mandatory for SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs?

Medical tests are usually required, especially for higher ages, higher sum assured, or if the applicant has pre-existing conditions. Younger applicants in good health may sometimes qualify for simplified or no medical tests, depending on the insurer’s underwriting rules and their personal profile.

Are there any tax benefits on SBI term insurance ₹20 lakhs?

Yes, premiums paid for term insurance are eligible for tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act (old regime), and the death benefit received by the nominee is tax-free under Section 10(10D), subject to prevailing tax laws.

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