The general insurance business in India is governed by the Insurance Act, 1938 which is based on the British Insurance Act. The Act was amended in 1969 for ‘social control’ to govern the general insurance business on healthy lines. However, it was felt that there still existed some scope for improvement. In view of this, on May 13, 1971 the government nationalised the general insurance industry by an ordinance which became the General Insurance (Nationalisation) Act, 1972. At that time there were 63 domestic insurance companies and 44 foreign insurance companies operating in India. The managements of all the 107 companies were taken over by the Government and accordingly the General Insurance Corporation (GIC)was formed as a government company in November 1972. The GIC as the holding company is entrusted with the task of superintending, controlling and carrying on the general insurance business in the country. Its subsidiaries in all the four zones of the country viz., the Oriental Fire & General Insurance Company (now known as the Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.), the National Insurance Company Ltd., the New India Assurance Company Ltd. and the United India Insurances Company do all classes of direct business of general insurance except aviation which is done by the GIC. VARIOUS TYPES OF GENERAL INSURANCE
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