Rural Postal ife Insurance eligibility expanded to Bank account holders across India
Hyderabad, Aug 21 (TNT): The Department of Posts has expanded the eligibility criteria for Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), allowing any person maintaining an operative savings bank account with a Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) or any scheduled bank in India to purchase RPLI, subject to applicable policy provisions.
The revised eligibility criteria have come into effect immediately, according to a press release issued by the Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Telangana Circle here on Friday.
The expansion is aimed at making RPLI accessible to a wider section of the public. Earlier, RPLI was primarily available to persons permanently residing in rural areas.
Under the revised criteria, an “operative savings bank account” refers to an active, KYC-compliant account that is not classified as dormant, inoperative, frozen, blocked or closed.
The Department of Posts said all existing RPLI eligibility and underwriting requirements will continue to apply without relaxation. These include provisions relating to age, sum assured, medical requirements, financial underwriting and other applicable conditions.
RPLI was introduced on March 24, 1995, primarily to provide life insurance coverage to rural residents. The scheme offers six insurance plans — Gram Suraksha, Gram Santosh, Gram Suvidha, Gram Sumangal, Gram Priya and Bal Jeevan Bima.
The sum assured under RPLI ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 lakh, subject to applicable policy conditions. Eligible policies also provide loan facilities after the prescribed period, while survival benefits are available under plans such as Gram Sumangal and Gram Priya.
The Department said premium payment and policy servicing facilities are available through post offices and digital channels, supported by its extensive servicing network across the country.
The RPLI scheme is administered by the Department of Posts and backed by the government.
The operative status of a savings bank account can be established through acceptable physical or digital proof, including CBS status or statement for POSB accounts, an email statement issued by the bank, an ATM statement or a passbook updated within the preceding three months.
Members of the public can contact their nearest Post Office for further details, the Department said.
TNT TS
