Rural Postal Life Insurance

Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI)

Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) was introduced on 24 March 1995 to extend life insurance protection to the rural population of India. The scheme was introduced in line with the recommendations of the Malhotra Committee, which highlighted the need to increase insurance coverage and mobilize greater life insurance savings. Over the years RPLI has grown substantially from a few hundred policies in 1995 to more than 71 Lacs policies as on 31.03.2026. The extensive network of Post Offices in rural areas and the relatively low cost of operations provided a strong foundation for extending life insurance services to rural communities.

The Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) scheme aims to provide life insurance protection to the rural population, particularly weaker sections and women workers, while promoting insurance awareness and financial security in rural areas. To further expand access to life insurance, RPLI eligibility has been extended to persons maintaining an operative Savings Bank Account with a Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) or any Scheduled Bank in India, thereby facilitating wider access to RPLI and promoting greater insurance coverage across the country.